Abstract A series of arylmethanesulfonyl chlorides were treated with triethylamine in THF to give stilbenes in excellent yields. Workup of the mixtures below 10 C permits isolation of stilbene episulfones which on warming decompose to yield the corresponding stilbenes stereospecifically. Application of the reaction to 9-fluorenylsulfonyl chloride affords bifluorenylidene, while trans-styrylmethanesulfonyl chloride gives 4, 5-dihydro-4, 5- ...
