Michael Additions to Activated Vinylphosphonates

Activated vinylphosphonates constitute a very important group of organic reagents which have found broad application in organic synthesis. The most important feature of activated vinylphosphonates is certainly their ability to undergo Michael additions in which a wide variety of carbo- and heteronucleophiles can be used. This review presents the potential of activated vinylphosphonates as Michael acceptors and shows possible applications of the thus-formed adducts, in particular as Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefinating reagents, in the synthesis of important carbo- and hetero­cycles as well as acyclic compounds. Selected preparations of activated vinylphosphonates are also described.