The reaction of a phosphonodithioacetate with amines (in particular fu
nctionalised amines) leads to thiocarbamoylmethylphosphonates (unsubst
ituted at the carbon alpha to the phosphoryl group), which can be used
as Horner-Emmons reagents. This pathway is a very convenient and gene
ral synthesis of functionalised thiocarbamoylphosphonates and alpha,be
ta-unsaturated thioamides (in particular new amino acid derivatives).