What is "alkyl phosphate"

n. (context organic chemistry English) Any ester derived from an aliphatic alcohol and phosphoric acid

Alkyl phosphates belong to a group of organic compounds called organophosphates. They are esters of phosphoric acid HPO and corresponding alcohol. For example, the formula of methyl phosphate is CH-HPO, dimethyl phosphate – (CH)HPO and trimethyl phosphate – (CH)PO. Alkyl phosphates are widely distributed in nature, and form the basis of most biological processes. For example, high energy metabolites such as ATP and PEP are alkyl phosphates, as are nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA. Alkyl phosphates are also important medicinally, for example the HIV drug AZT is inactive until it becomes an alkyl phosphate in vivo.