Base-Free Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of 2-Alkoxy-1,3-Dienes from Primary Propargyl Carbonates with Benzyl Alcohols

Although several methods have been reported for the synthesis of 1,3-diene skeletons from propargyl esters, only a few are effective for the synthesis of 2-alkoxy-1,3-dienes. Herein, we report a convenient palladium-catalyzed synthesis of these compounds using primary propargyl carbonates and benzyl alcohols. Mono-substituted 1,3-dienes were synthesized in up to 80% yield using various benzyl alcohols. Furthermore, the robustness and versatility of this method were demonstrated through a gram-scale synthesis and a one-pot reaction.