“…99 -101 °C, [α]D 20 = -52 (c 1.0, CHCl3). 1 Phenylmethylene dipropionate 7a 31 General procedure B was followed to afford the title compound as a clear oil in 97% yield (2.15 g, 9.12 mmol). 1 H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.71 (s, 1H, CH(OCOEt)2), 7.51 (qd, J = 3.8, 1.5 Hz, 2H, ArH), 7.41 (ddt, J = 4.3, 3.1, 1.6 Hz, 3H, ArH), 2.40 (tt, J = 7.4, 3.6 Hz, 4H, 2 x CH2CH3), 1.16 (t, J = 7.5 Hz, 6H, 2 x CH2CH3).…”