An inexpensive and efficient route to the Still–Gennari phosphonates, methyl and ethyl bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phosphonoacetates, has been developed. This short reaction sequence is operationally simple and makes these versatile reagents for the preparation of <i>Z</i>-alkenes, according to the Still–Gennari modification of the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons olefination reaction, available in multigram quantities.