Palladium chloride catalyzed the reaction of substituted anilines with methyl vinyl ketone, methyl acrylate, and acrylonitrile to produce vinylogous arylamino ketones, esters, and nitriles. N-Methylaniline gave the highest yields. Aniline and benzylamine failed to react in the desired fashion. The reaction was restricted to enones lacking a and B substitution.
