A complete E-selective synthesis of α, β-unsaturated amides through a sequential reaction of a range of dichloroamides with a variety of aldehydes promoted by Rieke manganese (Mn*) is reported. A mechanism based on a sequential aldol-type reaction and a completely stereoselective β-elimination is proposed to explain these results. The unsaturated amides obtained are readily and efficiently transformed into α, β-unsaturated ketones, aldehydes, ...
