Catalytic deallylation of allyl- and diallylmalonates.

Substituted allylmalonates undergo the selective C-C bond cleavage in the presence of triethylaluminum and a catalytic amount of nickel and ruthenium phosphine complexes, resulting in the loss of the allyl moiety and formation of monosubstituted malonates. Comparison of reactivity of the nickel and ruthenium complexes showed that the use of the former is general with respect to the structure of the substituted allylmalonates, and the activity of the latter depended on the substitution pattern of the double bond of the allylic moiety. The smooth deallylation may encourage the use of the allyl group as a protective group for the acidic hydrogen in malonates.