According to the invention, glufosinates and their 2-methyl analogues are produced in a multi-stage synthesis from methyl phosphor compounds (II) with unsaturated keto compounds (III) via adducts (IV), subsequent reaction in Strecker synthesis conditions and finally, hydrolysis of the aminonitrile (V): Stage 1: (II) + (III) → Adduct (IV); stage 2: Adduct (IV) for example NH3/NaCN/NH4Cl (V); stage 3: Hydrolysis of (V) to glufosinates. Various compounds are identifiable as adducts (IV), depending on the method conditions and substrates.