Ketones allylation-oxidations, 1,4-diketone synthesis, palladium

The Wacker reaction provides a method for the preparation of 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds, by formation of an enolate, allylation with an allyl halide, followed by palladium-catalysed oxidation of the terminal alkene. The product 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds can be treated with base to promote intramolecular aldol reaction (Robinson annulation - see Section 1.1.2) to give cyclopentenones. Thus, in a synthesis of pentalenene, Wacker oxidation of the 2-aUyl ketone 115 gave the 1,4-diketone 116, which was converted to the cyclopentenone 117 (5.115). ... 

In this synthesis of 1,5-dicaibonyl compounds, 3-butenyl halide is behaving as a madced 3-oxobutyl reagent, and can be used as an equivalent of metiiyl vinyl ketone. These reactirais offer new anellation methods. Also 1,4-addition of the allyl group to enones, followed by oxidatitm. offers a conveiuent synthetic method for 1,5-diketone preparation. Lewis acid promoted Nfichael addition of allylsilane (48) to a,p-unsaturated ketones, followed by the palladium-catalyzed oxidation, affods 1,5-diketones (Scheme 17). 3... 

---