ABSTRACT
An efficient synthesis of benzo[c]thiophenyl/p-phenylenyl/pyrenyl phosphonate esters has been achieved using ZnBr2-catalyzed Michaelis–Arbuzov reaction of corresponding benzyl alcohol/bromides at room temperature. Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction of the phosphonate esters with aryl/heteroaryl aldehydes in the presence of t-BuOK furnished the vinylenes in good yields. The absorption and emission characteristics of the synthesized vinylenes were also reported.