To a solution of sodium hydroxide (830 mg) in dimethylsulfoxide (100 ml) was added (4-methoxycarbonylbenzyl)triphenylphosphonium bromide (10.0 g), and after 30 minutes, 4-pyridinecarbaldehyde (2.22 g) was added thereto under ice-cooling. The mixture was stirred overnight. Water was added to the reaction mixture, and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with water and brine, dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (n-hexane—ethyl acetate) to give methyl 4-[(E)-2-(4-pyridyl)vinyl]benzoate (1.18 g) and methyl 4-[(Z)-2-(4-pyridyl)vinyl]benzoate (2.67 g).
