Zirconium(IV) compounds are reported as excellent catalysts for a three-component one-pot reaction of an amine, an aldehyde or a ketone, and a di/trialkyl/aryl phosphite to form alpha-aminophosphonates under solvent-free conditions at rt. Among the various zirconium compounds, ZrOCl2 center dot 8H(2)O and ZrO(ClO4)(2)center dot 6H(2)O were most effective. The reactions were faster with dialkyl/diaryl phosphites than with trialkyl/triaryl phosphites. No O-Me cleavage occurs with aryl methyl ether and methyl ester groups. alpha,beta-Unsaturated carbonyl moiety does not undergo conjugate addition with the phorphorous moiety.