Pd(II)-Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Olefination of Vinylic C–H Bonds with Allylic Esters: General and Selective Access to Linear 1,3-Butadienes

This work demonstrates a general and efficient method to prepare conjugated dienes by Pd(II)-catalyzed direct olefination of unactivated alkenes with allylic esters and acrylates via vinylic C–H activation. Various aryl and heteroaryl alkenes as well as aliphatic alkenes all give the desired linear 1,3-butadienes with retention of the traditional leaving groups such as OAc and other carboxylic acid ester groups