In recent years, the addition of dialkyl phosphonates to unsaturated groupings such as carbonyl, imine or to activated carbon-carbon unsaturation has been extensively investigated. 2 These reactions are generally catalyzed by alkali metals or their alkoxides. Catalysis by other bases has not been rep~ rted.~ It has been assumed that the mechanism of these reactions involves the polarization of the unsaturated group by the metal salt of ...
