An efficient preparation of pure ethyl
Z- and
E-![](/images/gifchars/alpha.gif)
,
![](/images/gifchars/alpha.gif)
-difluoro-4-phenyl-3-butenoate
1a and
1b together with the corresponding acids
2a and
2b is described. The proceduresinvolve stereocontrolled additions of
![](/images/entities/bull.gif)
CF
2CO
2Et to phenylacetylene or
![](/images/gifchars/beta2.gif)
-bromostyrene. Compound
1a is easily obtained by addition of
![](/images/entities/bull.gif)
CF
2CO
2Et to phenylacetylene via amechanism where the stereochemistry is controlled by anelectron-transfer process to produce predominantly the
Zvinyl anion. The product
1b is obtained by
![](/images/entities/bull.gif)
CF
2CO
2Etaddition-elimination to
Z- or
E-
![](/images/gifchars/beta2.gif)
-bromostyrenes via amechanism where the stereochemistry is controlled by stericfactors in the conformational equilibration of the intermediates.