Triethyl phosphonoacetate is a reagent for

organic synthesis Organic synthesis is a special branch of chemical synthesis and is concerned with the intentional construction of organic compounds. Organic molecules are often more complex than inorganic compounds, and their synthesis has developed into one o ...

used in the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction (HWE) or the Horner-Emmons modification. Triethyl phosphonoacetate can be added dropwise to sodium methoxide solution to prepare a phosphonate anion. It has an acidic proton that can easily be abstracted by a weak base. When used in an HWE reaction with a carbonyl the resulting alkene formed is usually the ''E'' alkene, and is generated with excellent regioselectivity.

References

Phosphonate esters Reagents for organic chemistry Ethyl esters {{organic-compound-stub