In an attempt to discover novel compounds with high activity and low toxicity, a series of new phosphonate derivatives containing triazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine moieties have been designed and synthesized by a nucleophilic substitution between α‐hydroxyphosphonates and 2‐methanesulfonyl‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines. The structures of all compounds prepared were confirmed by elemental analyses and by NMR and MS spectroscopy. The results of preliminary bioassay indicate that the title compounds possess certain selective herbicidal activity ...