Phosphate derivatives which model intermediates of enzymatic glycoside and nucleotide transformations were reacted with the hydrolytically active zinc-hydroxide species Tp*Zn-OH (Tp* = 3,5-disubstituted tris(pyrazolyl)borates). Depending on the substrate or the reaction conditions, either phosphate ester cleavage or deprotonation of a nucleobase NH was observed. As a result, the Tp*Zn units were attached to the phosphate part or/and to the nucleobase part of the substrate, Nucleobase adducts were found of three uridine monophosphate derivatives. Phosphate adducts were found of a hydroxyacetone monophosphate, of a ribose phosphate, and of uridine and N-methyluridine monophosphates. The products were identified by crystallographic and spectroscopic methods as tetrahedral Tp*Zn-X complexes. Crystals of Tp(Cum,Me)Zn-OPO(OC6H4NO2)(O-hydroxyacetone dimethyl ketal) are monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, with a = 13.221(1) Angstrom, b = 13.738 (1) Angstrom, c = 30.303(3) Angstrom, beta = 99.57(1)degrees, Z = 4; those of Tp(Cum,Me)Zn-OPO(OC6H4NO2)(O-2,3-isopropylidene-5-methylribose) are monoclinic, space group p2(1), with a = 16.179(6), Angstrom, b = 16.206(5) Angstrom, c = 21.192(14) Angstrom, beta = 101.02(5)degrees, Z = 2; those of Tp(Pic,Me)Zn(H2O)-OPO(OC6H4NO2)(O-2,3-isopropylidene-5-methylribose) are triclinic, space group P1, with a 13.106(4)Angstrom, b = 13.676(5) Angstrom, c 17.021(6) Angstrom, alpha = 84.10(3)degrees, beta = 88.37(3)degrees, gamma = 62.43(3)degrees, Z = 1.