The catalytic acetoxylation of dialkyl allyl phosphonates with the Pd(
OAc)(2)/benzoquinone/MnO2/HOAc system leads, regioselectively, to dial
kyl 3-acetoxy 1-alkenyl phosphonates. On the basis of the regio- and s
tereoselectivity of the reaction, a mechanism is proposed which involv
es a (pi-allyl) palladium complex as intermediate.