Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Carbonylative Dimerization of Allenyl Ketones: Efficient Synthesis of Difuranylketones.

Abstract Palladium(II) catalyzed carbonylation of 1,2-allenyl ketones 1 in the presence of p-benzoquinone (1 equiv) under a CO atmosphere (balloon) afforded difuranylketones 4 in moderate to good yields. Mechanistically, the electron-withdrawing nature of the acyl group should enhance the electrophilicity of the acylpalladium species B, and thus promote the oxypalladation of an additional molecule of 1, leading to the difuranyl ketone 4.