Radical-Based Dephosphorylation and Organophosphonate Biodegradation

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00241a039

Products resulting from the degradation of organophosphonates by Escherichia coli are identified and used as a basis for evaluating mechanisms which may be the chemical basis of the biodegradation.One mechanistic hypothesis which is consistent with the biodegradation products involves radical-based dephosphorylation.Chemical modeling of this process is achieved by the reaction of alkylphosphonic acids with lead(IV) tetraacetate and electrochemical oxidation at a platinum anode.