The First Stereoselective Palladium-Catalyzed Cyclocarbonylation of β,γ-Substituted Allylic Alcohols

β,γ-Substituted allylic alcohols react with CO in the presence of catalytic quantities of palladium acetate and 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane affording α,β-substituted-γ-butyrolactones in 42−85% isolated yields. The complete stereoselectivity observed in some cases is a significant feature of the lactonization reaction, with ( E )-allylic alcohols affording trans -disubstituted lactones. Depending on the structure of the allylic alcohol used in the cyclocarbonylation reaction, the formation of the corresponding alkene or the β,γ-unsaturated carboxylic acid was observed as a side or the principal reaction.