Structural determination of ascorbic acid 2-o-phosphate formed via acid hydrolysis of an ascorbic acid 3-O-phosphinate

The synthesis and X-ray structural determination of 3-O-[(bis-morpholino)phosphinyl]-5,6-O-isopropylidene- l -ascorbate (9) are described. Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of 9 afforded the 2-O-phosphate 6. Definitive structural proof of 6 is based on a study of the pH profile of its UV spectra as compared with those of ascorbic esters, 2 and 9 (Figs. 1–3).