An acyloxysulfone ring-closing metathesis/sulfone elimination sequence has been developed
for the preparation of various γ-alkylidene butenolides. The elimination is proposed
to proceed via an E1cb mechanism leading to (Z)-γ-alkylidene butenolides as the major products.
Key words
ring-closing metathesis - polyene metathesis - acyloxysulfone metathesis - E1cb elimination
- γ-alkylidene butenolide