A mild and neutral free radical reaction of an alpha,beta-unsaturated
ketone and tributyltin radical produced a resonance-stabilized allylic
O-stannyl ketyl intermediate. A tin(IV) enolate, produced by subseque
nt hydrogen atom transfer, was next quenched with various aldehydes to
yield an aldol product which was readily eliminated with p-toluenesul
fonic acid to afford new alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones with E/Z ratio
s up to >100:1.