Acyl palladium species in synthesis: single-step synthesis of α,β-unsaturated ketones from acid chlorides

Conditions are reported for the facile, one-pot synthesis of α,β-unsaturated ketones via the palladium-catalysed cross-coupling of acyl chlorides with hydrozirconated acetylenes, and its use in the 2-step synthesis of D-5-O-benzyl deoxyxylulose.