5,6,7,8-Tetrahydro-1-naphthalenol was used as a reagent in the synthesis of phosphonamidate and phosphonodiamidate prodrugs of adefovir and tenofovir which are used in the treatment of HIV infections. Also used in the synthesis of tetrahydronaphthalene-1-ol derivatives which were found to be promising potent antitumor agents.