Terminal olefins can be oxygenated to ketones using a Cu(I) catalyst in the presence of a catalytic amount of PdCl2 (the Wacker process): Org. Synth. Coll., 7, 137 (1990). For an example in which the product is readily cyclized to give a useful terpenoid synthon, see: Org. Synth. Coll., 8, 208 (1993)
In combination with benzoquinone as reoxidant, N-methylarylamines add to Michael acceptors to give enamines: J. Org. Chem., 46, 2561 (1981).
In the presence of triphenylphosphine and MeLi, a Pd(0) species is generated which catalyzes the coupling of organolithium reagents with aryl or vinyl halides. For tabulated results, see: Org. Synth. Coll., 7, 172 (1990)
For use in the microwave accelerated Heck coupling reaction of aryl halides in the ionic liquid 1-n-Butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate, see: J. Org. Chem., 67, 6243 (2002).
