Palladium-catalyzed oxidation of 1, 3-dienes in acetic acid using an oxidation system of MnOz and catalytic amounts of p-benzoquinone selectively gives 1, 4-diacetoxy-2-alkenes. The reaction proceeds with high stereoand regioselectivity, and by ligand control the reaction can be made to take place with either cis or trans 1, 4-diacetoxylation across the diene in cyclic systems. Also in an acyclic system the 1, 4-relative stereochemistry can be ...
