Dihydropyridones of the type I were converted to their C-5 alkylidene derivatives 2 by a reaction sequence involving phosphorylation, conjugate reduction or addition to provide piperidones 4, and then olefination via a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction. An intramolecular version of this method was used to prepare trans-bicyclic enone 13. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.