Catalytic amount of Cobalt(II) chloride in 1,2-dichloroethane promotes
the allylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with allyl acetates in hig
h yields. The allylation of pentane-2,4-dione is highly regioselective
as compared with methylacetoacetate and ethyl 2-oxocyclopentanecarbox
ylate.