Palladium(II) and palladium(0)-cocatalyzed ring opening and oxidation reactions of 2-(arylmethylene)cyclopropylcarbinols

Palladium-catalysed atom-economical synthesis of conjugated dienals from terminal acetylenes and acrolein

Conjugated (E,E)-dienals are versatile synthetic intermediates owing to their trifunctional, electrophilic nature and the prevalence of the (E,E)-diene in a wide range of functional molecules. It is shown herein that (E,E)-dienals can be readily prepared in two palladium-catalysed steps from simple, unactivated starting materials; terminal acetylenes and acrolein can be coupled via conjugate addition, followed by alkyne isomerisation. This procedure provides a highly atom-economical, redox-neutral and practical method to prepare a range of conjugated (E,E)-dienals in good yields and diastereoselectivities.

Recent advances in stereoselective synthesis of 1,3-dienes

The aim of this review is to present the latest developments in the stereoselective synthesis of conjugated dienes, covering the period 2005-2010. Since the use of this class of compounds is linked to the nature of their appendages (aryls, alkyls, electron-withdrawing, and heterosubstituted groups), the review has been categorized accordingly and illustrates the most representative strategies and mechanisms to access these targets.