Phosphorylation reactions of 1,4‐diketones, 1,5‐diketones, and methylene‐1,5‐diketones with bidentate phosphorus nucleophiles (phosphines and phosphonous acid derivatives) represent convenient methods of synthesis of saturated functionalized phospholanes and phosphorinanes. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 8: 217–223, 1997.