SummaryThe reaction of a cinnamoyl chloride with excess trimethyl phosphite gives a substituted 1, Shexadiene, in which C, C-bond formation has taken place between the P-C-atoms of the two a,p-unsaturated carbonyl moieties.[2] affords dialkyl vinyl phosphate esters by the reaction of a trialkyl phosphite with an a-halo carbonyl compound. There are further reactions known, where the attack of the trialkyl phosphite takes place at the 0-atom [3]. We wish to report a reaction of trimethyl phosphite with the 0-atom of an a,P-unsaturated carbonyl system, which leads to a reversal of the polarity of the double bond permitting a C,C-bond formation between the a-Catoms of two a,P-unsaturated carbonyl moieties.We planned to prepare p-chlorocinnamoyl phosphonate by the Michaelis-