An efficient synthesis of vinylphosphonates is described. This involves the reaction of alkyl cyanoformates and dialkyl acetylendicarboxylates in the presence of trialkyl phosphites. The 1H, 13C NMR, and 31P NMR spectra of vinylphosphonates having different substitution are consistent with the presence of two geometrical isomers.

The substitution of ligands in octahedral metal complexes is the most extensively mechanistically studied inorganic reaction. It is of fundamental importance, and a number of important observations and results are found. Substitution in octahedral systems was initially studied for classical coordination complexes in aqueous solutions. More recently some important observations have been made reg...