Results Dienones la-c were prepared by the Emmons-Wadsworth modification2 of the Wittig reaction using methoxide in methanol as the base. Thus, la was obtained from 4-pentenal and carbomethoxymethyl diethyl phosphonate, lb from this phosphonate and trans-4- hexenal, and IC from 4-pentenal and acetonyl diethyl phosphonate. 4-Pentenal and trans-4- hexenal were obtained by thermolysis of allyl vinyl ether and 3-but-1-enyl vinyl ether, ...