Palladium catalyzed reaction of allylic geminal diacetates with nucleophiles

The influence of ligands on the palladium catalyzed reaction of allylic-1,1-diol diacetate (1) with sodium dimethyl malonate was studied. When PPh₃ was used as the ligand, the malonate anion was found to attack the carbonyl carbon atom, but it would attack the allylic carbon atom while dppe was used as the ligand. The properties of nucleophiles also influence the position of attack. By suitable choice of the nucleophiles and ligands, dialkylated products can be obtained from 1.