Condensation of several representative aldehydes with the anion derived fro
m tetrakis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) methylenediphosphonate, a new Wadsworth-Em
mons reagent, afforded (Z)-vinyl phosphonates in good yields. The tatter, w
hen treated with a catalytic amount of potassium tert-butoxide in DMSO isom
erized to the corresponding (E)-allylic phosphonates, which produce E,Z-die
nes when reacted with a second aldehyde.