Reaction of zinc enolates derived from 1-aryl-2,2-dibromoalkan-1-ones with tetramethyl 2,2′-(1,4-phenylenedimethylidene)dimalonate, dimethyl 3,3′-(1,4-phenylene)bis(2-cyanoacrylate), and 2,2′-(1,4-phenylenedimethylidene)-bis(malononitrile)

Zinc enolates derived from 1-aryl-2,2-dibromoalkanones reacted with tetramethyl 2,2'-(1,4-phenylenedimethylidene)dimalonate, dimethyl 3,3'-(1,4-phenylene)bis(2-cyanoacrylate), and 2,2'-(1,4-phenylenedimethylidene)bis(malononitrile) to give, respectively, tetramethyl 3,3'-(1,4-phenylene)bis(2-alkyl-2-aroylcyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylates), dimethyl 3,3'-(1,4-phenylene)bis(2-alkyl-2-aroyl-1-cyanocyclopropane-1-carboxylates), and 3,3'-(1,4-phenylene)bis(2-alkyl-2-aroylcyclopropane-1,1-dicarbonitriles) as a single stereoisomer.