Palladium-catalysed synthesis of allyl acetates from allenes

Allyl acetates were synthesised from allenes utilising methodology based on the general reactivity of π-allyl palladium intermediates which participate efficiently in transformations involving nucleophiles. Reactions of allenes and aryl iodides in the presence of AcONa and Pd(OAc)₂/PPh₃ as the catalytic system afforded allyl acetates in moderate to good yields. Monosubstituted allenes, depending on their structure, produced either a separable mixture of two regioisomeric products or a single regioisomer. As allylic acetates can be easily hydrolysed, the methodology is applicable for the synthesis of allyl alcohols as well.