Applications
Diethyl cyanomethyl phosphonate is used as an intermediate in Horner-Emmons reaction for the synthesis of substituted nitriles and their amide and heterocyclic derivatives. It is known as a modified Wittig reagent used in the preparation of alpha, beta-unsaturated nitriles from ketones or aldehydes like 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutanal. It reacts with epoxides and nitrones to prepare cyano-substituted cyclopropanes and aziridines respectively. It is actively involved in the synthesis of alpha-arylated alkanenitriles via reaction with aryl iodides in presence of CuI.

Solubility
Miscible with water, chloroform, terahydrofuran, ethyl acetate and methylene chloride.

Notes
Incompatible with acids, bases, oxidizing agents and reducing agents.