Addition of elemental selenium to phosphonate carbanions- - a key step in the synthesis of vinylphosphonates. A new synthetic approach to 1,4-dicarbonyl systems.
A convenient synthesis of vinylphosphonates which involves addition of elemental selenium to phosphonate carbanions followed by alkylation and selenoxide elimination is described. A general approach to 1,4-dicarbonyl systems based on diethyl α-methylthiovinylphosphonate is also reported.