M= metal several steps, some involving vigorous reaction conditions. 2 Here we report a method for preparation of the desired acrylate unit under mild conditions and with high efficiency. The method is based on Wittig reagents of the sort represented by 2 and 3. A general technique for preparation of phosphorus reagents such as 2b is due to Corey3 and to Schlo~ ser,~ but we have failed in our attempts to apply that method in preparation of 2a ...
