Aminolysis of readily accessible β-diethoxyphosphonyl-γ-butyrolactones 5 and 22 provides a convenient entry to (E)-β, γ-unsaturated amides 8 and 24 respectively. The key step of the aminolysis involves elimination of diethoxyphosporic acid from the corresponding β- hydroxyalkylphosphonates 7 and 23. Stereochemistry of the amides 8 and 24 results from their consecutive base catalyzed isomerization.
