Ethyl phenylphosphinate may be used in the preparation of the following diethyl imidazol-2-yl-(amino) methylphosphonates and phosphinates:imidazol-2-yl-methyl(N-butylamino)phosphonate diethyl esterimidazol-2-yl-methyl(N-benzylamino)phosphonate diethyl esterimidazol-2-yl-methyl(N-butylamino)phenylphosphinate ethyl esterimidazol-2-yl-methyl(N-benzylamino)phenylphosphinate ethyl ester