Inhibition of the enzyme, osteoclastic acid phosphatase (OAP) may be a
viable approach to the treatment of osteoporosis. A series of arylmet
hylphosphonic acids were synthesized and shown to be inhibitors of OAP
. The most potent inhibitor, bis-benzoyl-1-naphthylmethylphosphonic ac
id (7a) had an IC50 = 1.4 mu M.