Organic Base‐Catalyzed Stereoselective Isomerizations of 4‐Hydroxy‐4‐phenyl‐but‐2‐ynoic Acid Methyl Ester to (E)‐ and (Z)‐4‐Oxo‐4‐phenyl‐but‐2‐enoic Acid Methyl Esters

We have developed a 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO)‐catalyzed isomerization of 4‐hydroxy‐4‐phenyl‐but‐2‐ynoic acid methyl ester to (E)‐4‐oxo‐4‐phenyl‐but‐2‐enoic acid methyl ester and an N,N‐diisopropylethylamine‐catalyzed isomerization of the same substrate to (Z)‐4‐oxo‐4‐phenyl‐but‐2‐enoic acid methyl ester.