Development of a Palladium-Catalyzed Carbonylative Coupling Strategy to 1,4-Diketones

We report on a three-component palladium-catalyzed coupling strategy for accessing a wide range of 1,4-diketones, which represent important precursors to heterocycles. Our method relies on a carbonylative Heck reaction employing substituted allylic alcohols, aryl iodides, and carbon monoxide. The reaction conditions are mild and do not require high CO pressure, and a wide functional group tolerance is revealed, providing the desired 1,4-diketones in moderate to good yields. Furthermore, the methodology is adaptable to the selective installment of 13C-carbon isotopes at either one or both of the carbonyl positions.