An important structural feature of many insect pheromones and other biologically active compounds is a conjugated diene system. The need for regio-and stereochemically pure compounds for biological tests is wellrecognized,'and a large number of methods for the stereoselective synthesis of conjugated dienes have been de-~ eloped.~-~ Among the more recent and promising methods is the direct coupling of two alkenyl moieties in the ...
