Catalytic enone cycloallylation via concomitant activation of latent nucleophilic and electrophilic partners: merging organic and transition metal catalysis.

Upon exposure of mono-enone mono-allylic carbonates to tributylphosphine and 1 mol % Pd(Ph3P)4, efficient conversion to the corresponding cycloallylated products is achieved. This transformation combines the nucleophilic features of the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction with the electrophilic features of the Trost-Tsuji reaction.