A variety of palladacycles are shown to catalyze Heck alkenylations with si
milar efficiencies, The new oxapalladacycle 1 was shown to insert and trans
metalate under mild conditions with n-butyl acrylate and vinyltributylstann
ane, respectively. This palladacycle acts as an active (pre)catalyst for cr
oss-coupling and Heck reactions.