Alkylmagnesium halides have been found to react with (Z)-4-benzyloxy-1-chloro-2-butene in presence of HMPA to produce a rearranged product 3-alkyl-4-benzyloxy-1-butene, while in absence of HMPA a normal product (Z)-1-alkyl-4-benzyloxy-2-butene resulted as the predominant product. Latter product has been utilized for the synthesis of (4E, 7Z)-4,7-tridecadienyl acetate, a sex pheromone of potato tuberworm moth.