Diethyl (N-hydroxy-2-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)phosphonate, C9H20NO4P, (II
), was isolated as colourless crystals during the oxidation of diethyl
(2-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)phosphonate, (I), with dimethyldioxirane. Co
mpound (II) is the first example of an N-hydroxypyrrolidine ring beari
ng a beta-phosphorus substituent. The crystal structure analysis repor
ted here was undertaken in order to determine the hybridization state
(sp(3)) of the N atom in its hydroxylamine form.