A convergent regiospecific synthesis of zirconium enolates

α-Lithiated phenylsulphonyloxiranes insert into alkenylzirconocene chlorides with loss of phenylsulphinate to give zirconyloxiranes which smoothly rearrange by either α- or β- C–O cleavage to afford regiodefined zirconium enolates which may be further elaborated.