Palladium mediated one-pot synthesis of 3-aryl-cyclohexenones and 1,5-diketones from allyl alcohols and aryl ketones.

One-pot synthesis of Robinson annulated 3-aryl-cyclohexenones from allyl alcohols and ketones using palladium is reported. Long chain aliphatic or aryl substitutions at the C1 position of allyl alcohol result in the formation of 1,5-diketone products. This simple one-pot method avoids the use of highly electrophilic vinyl ketones.