2-Aryl- or 2-heteroaryl-1,1-dibromo-1-alkenes are reduced by Grignard reage
nts in a THF + NMP mixture in the presence of a catalytic amount of iron sa
lts, to afford the corresponding E vinyl bromides. Further application to t
he one pot reduction-cross coupling reaction with Grignard reagents is high
lighted. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.