Abstract We prepared 69: 31-11: 89 mixtures of phosphonates 6b and 7b containing two phenoxy substituents, a CO 2 Et group, and 1 or 2 bromine atoms, respectively, at the interspersed methylene group. Deprotonating 64: 36 mixtures of these reagents with NaH and adding a variety of aldehydes at 0 C provided unsaturated α-bromoesters. Yields were typically 70-99% and E-selectivities (ie ester and β-substituent cis) 80: 20-98: 2. Similarly, ...
