The novel 2,6-dideoxy-2,2-difluoro; 2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro; and 2,3,6-trideoxy-2,3-difluoro-Ins(1,4,5)tris (dibutyl)phosphates and 6-deoxy-D-chiro-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakis(dibutyl)phosphate analogues were synthesized in optically pure form. Modification of Ins(1,4,5)P-3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P-4 analogues by lipophilic substituents has been investigated in order to produce neutral phosphate derivatives aimed to be incorporated in cell membrane for in vivo evaluation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.