5-substituted (2Z, 4E)-pentadien-aldoximes 6 having (E) (syn)-configuration of the C, N-double bond. The unsaturated oximes are shown to arise through an electrocyclicringopening reaction from the primary Grignard adducts 5. These can be trapped by protonation at low temperature.
Rapid addition of Grignard reagents to pyridine N-oxides under mild conditions gave stereodefined dienal oximes in good to excellent yields. This reaction provides an efficient access to substituted olefins with defined stereochemistry that are potentially of interest as bioactives themselves or as versatile synthetic intermediates.