Palladium(II)-catalyzed acetalization of allylic acetates and its utilization for the synthesis of 2-cyanovinyl ketones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-1992-26165

α-Cyanoallyl acetate (1 a), when treated with methanol in the presence of bis(acetonitrile)dichloropalladium(II) catalyst, is acetalized at the terminal olefinic carbon to give 1-cyano-3,3-dimethoxypropyl acetate (2). γ-Substituted α-cyanoallyl acetates give 3-substituted 1-cyano-3-oxo-propyl acetates 5 from which 2-cyanovinyl ketones 11 are obtained in good yields.