Syntheses with sulfones XLVII : stereoselective access to 1,3- and 1,4-dienes through hydrogenolysis of benzenesulfonyldienes. Application to pheromone synthesis

The stereospecific reduction of EE 2-benzenesulfonyl-1,3-dienes to ZE 1,3-dienes with Grignard reagents under transition metal catalysis ie described, Hydrogenolysis of the sulfonyl moiety of 2-benzenesulfonyl-1,4-dienes to ZE 1,4-dienes with sodium dithionite ie reported. These techniques have been applied to the stereoselective synthesis of (7E, 9Z) dodecadienyl acetate 3d, (9Z, 11E)tetradecadienyl acetate 3e and (9Z, 12E) tetradeoadienyl acetate, 6b.