Thus, a mixture of allyl acetate (10 mmol) and bis(trimethylsilyl)ketene acetal 1a† (11 mmol) was heated in THF (70 mL) for 24 h in the presence of Pd(PPh 3 ) 4 (0.2 mmol, 2%). Evaporation of the volatiles, under vacuum, left a residue which was diluted in dichloromethane and filtered through a pad of silica gel. Extraction with aqueous sodium hydroxide followed by acidification and extraction with dichloromethane gave a mixture of acids. After cooling the solution to ...