Stereochemistry of 3-carboxylated 2,5-dihydrothiophene formation

The preparation of 2-carboxylated-1,3-dienes from carbomethoxy vinylphosphonates and 2-mercaptocarbonyl compounds has been shown to give stereoisomeric mixtures. This may be due to the formation of stereoisomers of the intermediate 2,5-dihydrothiophenes and (or) to the occurrence of both modes of disrotatory sulfur dioxide elimination.