trans-1,2-Bis(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethene

Abstract

The title compound, C18H20O4, was prepared in high yield from 3,5-dimethoxystyrene via a Ru-catalysed homo-olefin metathesis. Exclusive formation of the E-configurated isomer was observed. Interestingly, one symmetric unit contains two molecules adopting an s-syn-anti and and an all-s-anti conformation.