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[(NHC)(PR 3 )PdX 2 ] complexes (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) are active precatalysts in the palladium-catalyzed allylation of carbonyl compounds with allylic acetates and diethylzinc. A comparative study examining the catalytic activity of a series of six of these complexes was carried out with allyl and cinnamyl acetates. [(IMesMe)(PPh 3 )PdI 2 ] was found to be the most versatile precatalyst (IMesMe = 1-mesityl-3-methylimidazol-2-ylidene) and the scope of the reaction was investigated with this complex. [(IMesMe)(PPh 3 )-PdI 2 ] catalyzes the allylation of aromatic (except 4-nitrobenzaldehyde) and aliphatic aldehydes (including enolizable aldehydes) with cinnamyl acetate to give the corresponding homoallylic alcohols in 57-98 % yields and diastereoselectivities ranging from 70:30 to 92:8. The allylation of acetone also takes place under the same conditions, leading to the expected adduct in 63 % yield. The reaction with cyclohexenyl acetate proceeds at room temperature to afford the homoallylic alcohols in 40-78 % yields with excellent diastereoselec-