Abstract A catalyst system consisting of Pd (PPh 3) 4 and P (pTol) 3 was found to effectively promote the intermolecular decarboxylative coupling of α-oxocarboxylic acids with diallyl carbonate to give α, β-unsaturated ketones. The key advantage of the new reaction protocol is that preformation of the allyl esters is not required. The reaction is believed to proceed via phosphane-mediated decarboxylation of the α-oxocarboxylates, leading to acyl anion ...
