Highly Selective Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Protected α,β-Unsaturated Methyl Ketones and 2-Alkoxy-1,3-butadienes. High-Speed Chemistry by Microwave Flash Heating

A selective and mild procedure is described for the direct synthesis of 2-alkene-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolanes via regiocontrolled Heck vinylation of commercially available 2-hydroxyethyl vinyl ether. The procedure permits chemoselective transformation of a vinylic triflate or bromide into a blocked alpha,beta-unsaturated methyl ketone. Furthermore, a significantly improved and highly regioselective synthesis of 2-alkoxy-1,3-butadienes has been developed. Flash heating by microwave irradiation promotes the palladium-catalyzed reactions, and the starting materials are fully converted after reaction times of 5-7 min.