Protonation of the reactive 1:1 intermediate produced in the reaction between dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates and triphenylphosphine by 3-(3,5-dimethyl pyrazol-1-yl)-3-oxopropionitrile leads to vinylphosphonium salts which undergo Michael addition with the conjugate base of the CH-acid to produce highly functionalised, salt-free phosphorus ylides in excellent yields.