Nájera oxime-derived palladacycles catalyze intermolecular Heck reaction with Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts. An improved and highly efficient synthesis of α-benzyl-β-ketoesters

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.tet.2009.06.084

An improved and highly efficient synthesis of several α-benzyl-β-ketoesters from Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts is described. These adducts were used as substrates for an intermolecular Heck reaction catalyzed by a Na?jera oxime-derived palladacycles. These efficient catalytic conditions probed to be very selective providing only the corresponding functionalized β-ketoesters in high yield with no decarboxylation product. It seems that the method herein described is one of the most efficient for the synthesis of α-benzyl-β-ketoesters.