Reaction of gamma,gamma-difluoro-alpha,beta-enoates having a delta-hydroxyl group with trialkylaluminum (R3Al) was found to be promoted by CuI.2LiCl and to proceed in SN2' manner giving rise to the alpha-alkylated (Z)-gamma-fluoro-beta, gamma-enoates, while reductive defluorination of gamma,gamma-difluoro-alpha,beta-enoates with Me2CuLi followed by reaction with alkyl halides provided the corresponding (Z)-alpha-alkylated products in high yields. The latter reaction was applied to the preparation of the dipeptide (Z)-fluoroalkene isostere of Sta-Ala, which is the central dipeptide unit in Pepstatin, a natural inhibitor of aspartate proteases. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.