Rhodium(i)-catalysed conjugate phosphination of cyclic alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones with silylphosphines as masked phosphinides.

Nucleophile-activation of the phosphorus(iii)-silicon linkage in silylphosphines generates a nucleophilic phosphorus(iii) equivalent thereby allowing for a rhodium-catalysed conjugate phosphination of beta-substituted alpha,beta-unsaturated acceptors.