The palladium-catalyzed conversion of vinyl triflates to vinyl phosphines is reported. This process allows for the synthesis of vinyl phosphines from ketones. Selective enolization of a variety of ketones followed by trapping of the enolate as the vinyl triflate is reported. The vinyl triflates are then converted to the corresponding vinyl phosphine through palladium catalysis. The resulting vinyl phosphines can then be reduced to give alkyl phosphines. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.