Direct catalytic cross-coupling of alkenyllithium compounds

A catalytic method for the direct cross-coupling of alkenyllithium reagents with aryl and alkenyl halides is described. The use of a catalyst comprising Pd-2(dba)(3)/XPhos allows for the stereoselective preparation of a wide variety of substituted alkenes in high yields under mild conditions. In addition (1-ethoxyvinyl) lithium can be efficiently converted into substituted vinyl ethers which, after hydrolysis, give readily access to the corresponding methyl ketones in a one pot procedure.