A series of aryl and arylmethyl β-aryl-β-ketophosphonates have been prepared as potential β-lactamase inhibitors. These compounds, as fast, reversible, competitive inhibitors, were most effective (micromolar Ki values) against the class D OXA-1 β-lactamase but had less activity against the OXA-10 enzyme. They were also quite effective against the class C β- lactamase of Enterobacter cloacae P99 but less so against the class A TEM-2 enzyme. ...