Single isomer trisubstituted olefins bearing alkyl groups

E-β-Chloro-α-iodo-α,β-unsaturated esters were converted to single isomer trisubstituted olefins bearing alkyl substituents by using and alkyl-Suzuki cross coupling. The process was highly selective, and the products in all cases were isolated as single isomers. Mechanistic investigations indicated that this process transfers a hydrogen from water to the α-position of the substrate, and then an alkyl group is introduced to the β-position of the intermediate template while replacing a chloride.