The bioactive resorcylic acid lactone aigialomycin D (1) has been synthesized by a novel combination of ring-closing metathesis (RCM) and Ramberg-Bäcklund reactions. This synthetic strategy enables the C1'-C2' alkene to be masked as a sulfone during formation of the macrocycle by ring closing metathesis at the C7'-C8' olefin, thus avoiding competing formation of a cyclohexene. A subsequent Ramberg-Bäcklund reaction efficiently produces the C1'-C2' E-alkene. This combined RCM/Ramberg-Bäcklund reaction strategy should be widely applicable to the synthesis of macrocyclic dienes.

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Methyl 2-[(diethoxyphosphoryl)methyl]benzoate reacts with several aldehydes to produce an alkenylphosphonate as the major product, together with varying amounts of the expected Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons product, a 1,2-disubstituted E-alkene. Use of a bulky aldehyde or the tert-butyl ester favours the normal HWE product.

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