Alpha-sulfinyl carbanions as a new source of olefins.

[reaction: see text] Secondary alpha-lithiosulfinyl carbanions react either intermolecularly, after transmetalation into an organocopper derivative in an S(N)2-type process with zinc carbenoid, or intramolecularly via higher-order zincate to give, through a tandem zinc homologation-beta-elimination reaction the corresponding alkenes. alpha,alpha-Disubstituted alkenes are only formed from tertiary alpha-lithiosulfinyl carbanions via the 1,2-metalate rearrangement.