Phosphonic acid derivatives 14 and 18 were prepared as analogues of sphinganine-1-phosphate (4) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (3) Key steps of the synthesis are the highly face-selective conjugate addition of the lithium salt of Schöllkopf s bislactim ether 5 to the diethyl vinylphosphonate 7 and the alkylation of the amino aldehyde 11 with metal organic reagents.