The alpha-hydroxy phosphonates have been synthesized using simple, inexpensive, and commonly available Ba(OH)(2)center dot 8H(2)O at room temperature and quantitative yields were obtained in just 15 min for most of the reactions. On applying the same reaction condition to aqueous mediated Henry reaction, 2-nitroalkanols were obtained in good to excellent yield within 15 min. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.