Synthesis of Ethyl (2E)-5-Phenylpent-2-en-4-ynoate

An efficient procedure has been developed for the synthesis of ethyl (2E)-5-phenylpent-2-en-4-ynoate by olefination-dehydrohalogenation of (2Z)-2-iodo-3-phenylprop-2-enal prepared by iodination of commercially available cinnamaldehyde.