It was shown by31P and13C NMR spectroscopy that methyl(3-carboxy-3-oxopropyl)phosphinic acid (4-methylhydroxyphosphinyl-2-oxobutyric acid) (1) and the amide (2) of the latter exist in keto forms in non-aqueous solutions. In aqueous solutions an equilibrium between the keto,gem-diol, and enol forms has been observed. The proportions of the diol and enol forms increase as the acidity of the media increases. Silylation of acid 1 with hexamethyldisilazane gives the tris(trimethylsilyl) derivative of enol form (3) (Z- andE-isomers).