Highly atom-efficient oxidation of electron-deficient internal olefins to ketones using a palladium catalyst.

A 100% atom-efficient synthesis of ketones from electron-deficient internal olefins was achieved using O2 as a "green" oxidant (see scheme, DMA=N,N-dimethylacetamide, EWG=electron-withdrawing group). Various electron-deficient olefins were oxidized to the corresponding ketones with over 99% selectivity and without the formation of olefin isomers or their oxidized products.