Abstract The reactions of five Michael-type olefins with diphenylphosphine have been carried out. 1-Cyanocyclopentene, 1-cyanocyclohexene, and 4-t-butyl-1-cyanocyclohexene all provide the corresponding 2-diphenylphosphino-1-cyanocycloalkanes, and both methyl acrylate and ethyl methacrylate yield the corresponding 2-diphenylphosphinopropionates. For the products from 1-cyanocyclopentene and 1-cyanocyclohexene, 13 C and 31 P ...