Aliphatic aldehyde phenylhydrazones 1 were converted into 1-phenylazo-1-alkenes 3bd either by the reaction with I2 and pyridine followed by base induced 1, 4-elimination of pyridine. HI (Method A), or via N-(4-methylbenzenesulfonyl)-N-phenylhydrazones 7 which undergo 1, 4-elimination of p-toluenesulfinic acid upon treatment with KOt-Bu (Method B). Both procedures yield mixtures of configurational isomers of the phenylazo-alkenes EE- ...