Abstract
The mild cleavage of phosphonodiester groups supported on a silica matrix has been investigated. The use of TMSBr (bromotrimethylsilane) with diethyl phosphonates has been revisited, and interactions of phosphonoacids with silicon species are described. An alternative route utilising di-tert-butyl phosphonate group has also been studied and in this case cleavage has been demonstrated in very mild conditions.