The preparation of (Z)-1-fluoro-2-bromostyrenes provides a general route for the formation of (Z)-1-fluorostilbene derivatives as configurationally stable spacial linkers for the design of conformationally restricted peptidomimetics. Palladium-catalyzed aryl Suzuki and Stille cross-coupling reactions have been surveyed to proceed with complete retention of fluoroalkene geometry, and permit the direct incorporation of a variety of aryl and heteroaromatic substituents.