ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the distribution and molecular structures of naturally occurring phosphonates. The primary natural molecule which contains the C–P bond is 2-aminoethyl-phosphonic acid (NH2-CH2-CH2-PO3H2, AEP) which is incorporated into lipid and proteinaceous residues. The material was subsequently purified and identified as AEP. The discovery of this compound has led to investigations on the distribution, metabolic pathways, chemical properites, and biological significance of naturally occurring phosphonates. The projection of true distribution is a difficult matter since the natural occurrence of phosphonates has not been thoroughly investigated. The first aspect must be addressed by examining the aminophosphonates and the molecules into which they are incorporated naturally. Since organisms which are at the base of the food chain have been found to synthesize the C–P bond, questions arise as to whether organisms higher in the food chain are synthesizing phosphonates, if they are incorporating exogenous phosphonates or if a contaminating microorganism is present.
