.alpha.-aminophosphonates

A compound having formula:

• ##STR9## wherein:
• R.sub.1 is alkyl having 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or alkaryl having 7 to about 15 carbon atoms;
• R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are, independently, H, alkyl having 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, aryl having 6 to about 14 carbon atoms, or R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, together, are cycloalkyl;
• R.sub.4 is aryl having 6 to about 14 carbon atoms;
• R.sub.5 is alkyl having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms;
• aryl having 6 to about 14 carbon atoms;
• aralkyl having 7 to about 15 carbon atoms;
• a naturally occurring amino acid sidechain;
• or --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --(CH.dbd.CH).sub.x --X wherein n is 1-5, x is 1, and X is hydrogen, alkyl having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, or aryl having 6 to about 14 carbon atoms, provided that R.sub.5 is not phenyl or substituted phenyl;
• R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 are, independently, H, alkyl having 1 to about 5 carbon atoms, aryl having 6 to about 14 carbon atoms, or aralkyl having 7 to about 15 carbon atoms;
• and
• R.sub.8 is H, alkanoyl having 2 to about 5 carbon atoms or alkoxycarbonyl having 2 to about 5 carbon atoms.