Palladium-catalyzed preparation of α-allyl esters and α,β-unsaturated esters from saturated esters via their silyl acetals

Reaction of ketene silyl acetals with allylic carbonates in the presence of palladium-phosphine catalyst in dioxane gives α-allyl esters in high yields. When the reaction is carried out with phosphine-free palladium catalyst in nitriles, α,β-unsaturated esters are obtained in good yields.