Abstract
Treatments of β-chlorovinylaldehydes with zinc powder in ethanol selectively remove the β-chlorine atom to give the α, β-unsaturated aldehydes. However, the same treatments in nitrogen atmosphere and, preferably, by using the activated zinc powder lowered remark ably the yield of the α, β-unsaturated aldehydes and give the reductive dimer, 1, 2-di-(1-alkenyl) ethylene glycol, as major product.
