Optically active 1-isobutyl-2(Z)-butenyltrimethylammonium iodide (10)
underwent allylation with dimethyl sodiomalonate in the presence of a
palladium(0) catalyst. The reaction proceeded predominantly with 1,3 t
ransposition and with inversion of configuration due probably to a pri
or isomerization from anti to syn-pi-allylpalladium intermediate (14--
>15). The stereochemistry observed in the reaction with phenylzinc chl
oride was opposite to that with the soft nucleophile.