Grignard Addition Reactions to 1,4-Difunctionalized But-2-ynes

Trisubstituted alkenes of E geometry have been prepared by anti addition of Grignard reagents to 1,4-difunctionalized but-2-ynes. Addition of primary, secondary and aromatic Grignard reagents to but-2-yne-1,4-diol provided (E)-2-substituted but-2-ene-1,4-diols as major products along with the corresponding 2-substituted buta-2,3-dien-1-ols. Addition of phenylmagnesium bromide to the mono- and di-methyl ethers of but-2-yne-1,4-diol gave 2,3-diphenyl-1,3-diene. Treatment of 4-dimethylaminobut-2-yn-1-ol with primary alkyl and alkenyl Grignard reagents afforded the 2-substituted anti addition product regiospecifically, stereospecifically and in high yield. Reaction of 1-dimethylamino-4-methoxybut-2-yne with butylmagnesium bromide provided only the 3-substituted anti addition product in good yield.