A novel palladium-catalyzed preparative method of α,β-unsaturated ketones and aldehydes from saturated ketones and aldehydes via their silyl enol ethers

Silyl enol ethers prepared from saturated ketones and aldehydes can be converted to α,β-unsaturated ketones and aldehydes by the reaction of allyl carbonate in the presence of palladium-phosphine complexes as a catalyst. The selection of solvent is crucial and nitriles are most effective as the solvent.