Catalytic Hydrogenation/Enzymic Hydrolysis as a Route from Alkyl Alka-2,4-dienoates to (Z)-Alk-3-enoic Acids

(Z)-Alk-3-enoic acids of no less than 94% geometrical purity have been obtained from the respective alkyl alka-2,4-dienoates after hydrogenation over chromium hexacarbonyl followed by hydrolysis of the resulting products using porcine pancreatic lipase or KOH in H₂O/MeOH.