One-pot synthesis of (E)-alkenes 5 from the reactions of aldehyde 1 and nit
romethane 2 in the acetic acid solution and then with triethylborane 4 in t
he biphase of diethyl ether and aqueous Solution ill the presence of oxygen
in air was reported. Various (E)-alkenes 7 could also be prepared when dif
ferent kinds of secondary or tertiary alkyl iodides 6 were used under simil
ar conditions. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.