Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Conjugated Allenynes via Decarboxylative Coupling.

A new strategy to access conjugated allenynes via a decarboxylative coupling of propargyl esters of propiolates has been developed. In this process, allenyl-palladium intermediates are coupled with acetylides that are generated in situ to form the conjugated allenynes. Finally, the coupling is demonstrated to be highly stereospecific, providing a route to enantioenriched allenes.