An Efficient Procedure Based on a MW-Assisted Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons Reaction for the Synthesis of (Z)-3,3-Trisubstituted-α,β-unsaturated Esters

A microwave-assisted HWE olefination process of readily accessible aryl-alkyl ketones has been developed to provide a rapid access to (Z)-3,3-trisubstituted- alpha,beta-unsaturated methyl esters, key building blocks for the synthesis of biologically active compounds.