A new route to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes using the condensation of trimethylsilyl β-trimethylsilyl enol ethers with aldehydes.

β-Trimethylsilyl enol ethers 1 (Z) obtained from β-bromoenolethers 2 were condensed with aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of a catalytic quantity of trimethylsilyl triflate leading to ethylenic aldehydes 3 (E) with good yields (79–90%).