A Facile Zn-mediated Stereoselective Synthesis of (<i>E</i>)- and (<i>Z</i>)-Trisubstituted Alkenes from Baylis–Hillman Adducts in Water and Its Application
A simple and efficient stereoselectivesynthesis of (E)- and (Z)-trisubstituted alkenes has been accomplished by treatment of the acetyl derivatives of the Baylis-Hillmanadducts with Zn in saturated aq. NH 4 Cl solution under reflux. The method has been utilized for the preparation of the two chiral insect pheromones, dominicalure-I and dominicalure-II, of the lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica