Palladium-Catalyzed Direct C-H Arylation of 3-Butenoic Acid Derivatives.

We report herein a direct method to synthesize 4-aryl-3-butenoic acid through a carboxylic-acid-directed oxidative Heck reaction. The various 4-aryl-3-butenoic acids are easily prepared in moderate to good yields. In view of the promising bioactivity of 4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid previously reported, its derivatives reported here may be bioactive.