Reactions of allylic carbonates catalyzed by palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, molybdenum, and nickel complexes; allylation of carbonucleophiles and decarboxylation- dehydrogenation

Allylation of carbonucleophiles with allylic carbonates catalyzed by various transition metal complexes has been studied. Palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, nickel, and molybdenum complexes were found to be active catalysts. The rhodium catalyst showed a different regioselectivity from the other catalysts, the reaction can proceed without allylic rearrangement. In the absence of nucleophiles, allyl alkyl carbonates were converted into ketones by decarboxylation-dehydrogenation; the ruthenium catalyst was the most active in this reaction.