The Kabachnik–Fields reaction of E,Z‐citral with diethyl phosphite in the presence of isobutylamine has been found to form α‐aminophosphonates. The Pudovik reactions of diethyl phosphite with prenyl imines prepared on the basis of E,Z‐citral with isobutylamine also allowed us to obtain the same α‐aminophosphonates. We have managed to synthesize α‐aminophosphonates by the reaction of O,O‐dialkyl trimethylsilyl phosphites with prenyl imines in the presence of water or diethylamine. α‐Aminophosphonates were also synthesized by the reaction of diethyl phosphite with (R,S)‐citronellal in the presence of alkylamines. α‐Aminophosphonates obtained showed bacteriostatic activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 24:36–42, 2013; View this article online at http://wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/hc.21060