Synthesis of a Series of γ-Keto Allyl Phosphonates.

Under solvent-free conditions and at 80 °C, a DMAP- or imidazole-mediated clean and rapid conversion of cyclic Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) acetates into the corresponding γ-keto allyl phosphonates in 70-93% yields is described herein. This allylic nucleophilic substitution works well with primary and secondary acetates bearing, at the β'-position, linear or branched alkyl groups and aryl groups.