Synthesis of 2-aziridinyl phosphonates by modified Gabriel-Cromwell reaction and their antibacterial activities

► A new method for the synthesis of 2-aziridinyl phosphonates was developed. ► Using this method eight new aziridinyl phosphonates were synthesized in 70-92% yield. ► The antibacterial activities of synthesized compounds were tested for the first time. ► Their activity is in borderline with respect to the reference antibiotics.