The title compounds were prepared by a straightforward two-step procedure. Tartaric acid was first protected as either abis(ketal) or a bis(acetal). This intermediate was then treatedwith potassium tert-butoxide at reduced temperature to effecta stereoselective elimination leading to the Z diastereomerof the α,β-unsaturated acid. This protocol is useful for thelaboratory-scale synthesis of these compounds but can alsobe scaled up to produce kilogram quantities of the material.