Methods for synthesizing phosphonic compounds and compounds thereof

1. A method for making a compound, comprising admixing together compounds I, II, and III

wherein R 1 -R 7 comprises, independently, hydrogen, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a heterocycloalkyl group, an aryl group, a heteroaryl group, a protecting group, or a combination thereof,

wherein compounds I, II and III react to produce a compound comprising the formula IV

wherein R 1 -R 4 and R 7 comprises, independently, hydrogen, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a heterocycloalkyl group, an aryl group, a heteroaryl group, a protecting group, or a combination thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein R 1 and R 7 are hydrogen.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein R 1 and R 7 comprises, independently, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, pentyl, or hexyl.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein R 1 and R 7 are methyl.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein R 2 is hydrogen and R 4 comprises a branched or straight chain alkyl group.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein R 2 and R 3 are hydrogen.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 are hydrogen.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein R 4 comprises a branched- or straight-chain alkyl group.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein R 4 comprises ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, pentyl, or hexyl.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein R 4 comprises methyl.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein R 4 comprises an aryl group or a heteroaryl group.

12. The method of claim 6 , wherein R 4 comprises a phenyl group.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein compound II comprises ethanal, methylphenyl ketone, or sulfonated benzyl methyl ketone.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein compound II comprises acetone.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein R 5 and R 6 comprises a branched- or straight-chain alkyl group.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein R 5 and R 6 comprises, independently, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, pentyl, or hexyl.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein compound III comprises acetic anhydride, propionic anhydride, or butyric anhydride.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein compound I comprises phosphorous acid, compound II comprises acetone, and compound III comprises acetic anhydride.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reaction is conducted in the presence of an optional catalyst.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the catalyst comprises R 8 COOH, wherein R 8 comprises C 1 -C 8 branched- or straight-chain alkyl.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein R 8 comprises methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, pentyl, or hexyl.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the catalyst comprises acetic acid.