A convenient method for the synthesis of (Z)-α-haloacrylates: Lewis base-catalyzed carbonyl olefination using α-halo-C,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)ketene acetals

A highly useful method for the stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-α-haloacrylates from various aldehydes that uses α-halogenated ethyl-C,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)ketene acetals in the presence of a Lewis base catalyst such as acetate salts was established. This procedure gives the corresponding α-halo-α,β-unsaturated esters in high yields with excellent stereoselectivity from E/Z mixtures of ketene silyl acetals under mild conditions.