Preparation of unsaturated alcohols

A process of preparing a predominately cis-unsaturated alcohol having the following formula:

• ##STR4## wherein R.sub.1 is a straight or branched chain alkyl group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 can be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, a straight or branched chain alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl radical having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, said aryl radical can be substituted with an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and halogen;
• comprising the steps of:
• a. pre-coordinating a predominately cis-1-alkenyl aluminum dialkyl compound having the following formula:
• ##STR5## wherein R can be selected from lower alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and R.sub.1 has been previously defined;
• with at least one molar equivalent of a Lewis base,
• b. reacting said product of step (a) with an epoxide compound having the following formula:
• ##STR6## wherein R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 have been previously defined, said reaction being carried out at a temperature of between -80.degree. C. and 130.degree. C.;
• c. treating the reaction product of steps (a) and (b) with an aqueous solution of a mineral acid, to yield the cis-unsaturated alcohol compounds.