Palladium catalyzed Heck reaction of arenediazonium tetrafluoroborate salts with Baylis–Hillman adducts: production of α-benzyl-β-keto esters

A novel experimental procedure to obtain α-benzyl-β-keto esters from the Heck reaction between arenediazonium tetrafluoroborate salts and Baylis–Hillman (BH) adducts in the presence of Pd(OAc)2 as catalyst is described. The methodology is simple, straightforward and the use of arenediazonium salts as opposed to conventional arylhalides/triflates over the usual Heck reaction is highlighted.