phosphinoyl chloride 1a or chlorophosphates 1b leads to the synthesis of phosphane oxides 3aa–ag and phosphonates 3bb, be in good to high yield. The reaction can be extended to cerium enolates 4 (of ketones) and 6 (of nitriles) except when a benzyl group bound to the carbonyl moiety should be metallated. The latter reaction is the first reported synthesis of β-oxophosphane oxides by a simple reaction between