Knoevenagel Adducts as Trimethylenemethane Dipole Surrogates

Knoevenagel adducts derived from readily available acetoxyacetone and malonic acid derivatives served as trimethylenemethane surrogates for formal 1,3-difunctionalization through a sequence of selective γ-deprotonation/α-alkylation and palladium(0)-catalyzed allylic alkylation. Herein, we report the discovery and development of a three-component 1,3-difunctionalization of Knoevenagel adducts as well as a unique palladium(0)-catalyzed branch-selective allylic alkylation.