A cascade Heck–Aldol–Heck reaction by a combination of transition-metal catalysis and aminocatalysisElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental details and the characterization data for all compounds. See DOI: 10.1039/c1cc10152h

An unprecedented cascade Heck–Aldol–Heck reaction was developed to form two C–C single bonds and one CC double bond in one process by a combination of palladium(0) catalysis and aminocatalysis. Various aryl iodides could perform the cascade reaction with readily available propenol and formaldehyde to afford novel (E)-trisubstituted alkenes in 66–81% yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]