Regioselective palladium-catalyzed formate reduction of N-heterocyclic allylic acetates.

The regioselective palladium-catalyzed formate reduction of allylic acetates in five- to eight-membered heterocycles is reported. Reduction of allylic acetates under mild conditions using allylpalladium chloride dimer, phosphines, and formic acid/triethylamine in DMF gives the exo-cyclic olefins in good regioselectivities and high yields. Synthetic application in preparing N-tosyl-3-oxo-piperidine is also reported.