The synthesis is described of photolabile sulfonamide derivatives of amino acids, most of which incorporate a monophosphate ester to promote water solubility. Points of particular synthetic interets include observations on the reduction of diaryl ketones and diarylmethanols, e.g. compounds 7 and 9, with NaBH4–TFA, and a convenient, effective sequence for conversion of bromoarenes into arenesulfonyl halides, e.g. 10 → 13. Photolysis of the glycine derivative 18a in aqueous solution released free glycine in poor yield, except in the presence of a very large excess of ascorbate as a reducing agent. The likely cause is discussed in terms of a decarboxylation side-reaction occurring during the overall progress of the photocleavage.