Abstract
Vinylation of highly hindered ${\beta}$-acetoxyvinyl mercurials with olefins in acetonitrile at room temperature in the presence of cupric chloride, as a reoxidant for the palladium, and a catalytic amount of $LiPdCl_3$ gave the corresponding conjugated dienes in moderate to good yields. The (E) or (Z) geometry in vinyl mercurials was retained in the vinylated products. The reaction was tolerant of a wide variety of functional groups ($CO_2$R, CN, OR, OAc) on either the vinyl mercurial or olefin compounds.