Highly (E)-selective Wadsworth-Emmons reactions promoted by methylmagnesium bromide.
Claridge TDW., Davies SG., Lee JA., Nicholson RL., Roberts PM., Russell AJ., Smith AD., Toms SM.
An experimentally simple protocol for the very highly (E)-selective Wadsworth-Emmons reaction [(E):(Z) selectivities in excess of 180:1 in some cases] of a range of straight-chain and branched aliphatic, substituted aromatic, and base-sensitive aldehydes via reaction with an alkyl diethylphosphonoacetate and MeMgBr is reported.