A highly stereoselective synthesis of (E)-1-substituted-1,3-dienes

(E)-1-substituted-1,3-dienes are obtained with high stereoselectivity by the thermal extrusion of SO₂ from 2-substituted-2,5-dihydrothiophene-1,1-dioxides generated by a retro Diels-Alder reaction. An application to the synthesis of (E)-9,11-dodecadien- 1-yl acetate, a sex pheromone of the red-bollworm moth is described.