The first examples of the synthesis of 1,3-dienyl sulfoxides by Heck reacti
ons are described. Both racemic and enantiomerically pure exocyclic 1-p-tol
ylsulfinyl-1,3-dienes 1 are readily prepared by the intramolecular Heck rea
ction of their corresponding vinyl iodides in the presence of Pd(OAc)(2) as
catalyst and Ag2CO3 as base. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights res
erved.