Nájera oxime-derived palladacycles catalyze intermolecular Heck reaction with Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts. An improved and highly efficient synthesis of α-benzyl-β-ketoesters

An improved and highly efficient synthesis of several α-benzyl-β-ketoesters from Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts is described. These adducts were used as substrates for an intermolecular Heck reaction catalyzed by a Nájera oxime-derived palladacycles. These efficient catalytic conditions probed to be very selective providing only the corresponding functionalized β-ketoesters in high yield with no decarboxylation product. It seems that the method herein described is one of the most efficient for the synthesis of α-benzyl-β-ketoesters.