Sequential reactions promoted by manganese: completely stereoselective synthesis of (E)-alpha,beta-unsaturated amides, ketones, aldehydes, and carboxylic acids.

A complete E-selective synthesis of alpha,beta-unsaturated amides through a sequential reaction of a range of dichloroamides with a variety of aldehydes promoted by Rieke manganese (Mn*) is reported. A mechanism based on a sequential aldol-type reaction and a completely stereoselective beta-elimination is proposed to explain these results. The unsaturated amides obtained are readily and efficiently transformed into alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, aldehydes, or carboxylic acids without loss of the diastereoisomeric purity of the C-C double bond.