Synthesis of (E)-α,β-unsaturated esters with total diastereoselectivity by using chromium dichloride

Synthesis of di- and trisubstituted (E)-α,β-unsaturated esters is easily achieved by using chromium dichloride through an elimination reaction of a diastereoisomeric mixture of α-halo-β-hydroxy esters. The starting materials were easily prepared by the aldol reaction of lithium enolates of α-chloroesters with aldehydes. A mechanism to explain this elimination process is proposed.