Purification of Alkene Stereoisomers through Z-Selective Ethenolysis

Significance

Many methods exist for preparing disubstituted E-olefins, such as the Horner-­Wadsworth-Emmons reaction and olefin cross-metathesis. While these reactions have proven to be highly reliable and practical, the undesired Z-isomer is often difficult to separate by chromatography or distillation. In the present communication, the authors disclose how pure E-olefins can be obtained from an E/Z mixture through the selective ethenolysis of the Z-isomer.