The preparation of the geometrical isomers of ethyl α-nitrocinnamate and α-nitrochalcone is described. Ethyl (E)-α-nitrocinnamate and (Z)-α-nitrochalcone were obtained by the thermal- or photoisomerization of the corresponding geometrical isomers, which were themselves produced predominantly through the Knoevenagel reaction. The facile addition of ethanol to the double bonds of β, β-dinitrostyrene, ethyl α-nitrocinnamates, and α-nitrochalcones ...
