Selective palladium-catalyzed amination of β-chloroacroleins by substituted anilines

β-Chloroacroleins can undergo a selective amination on their chloro position under palladium catalysis; in those conditions, no imine formation was observed. Their coupling with anilines carrying electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituents proceeds in moderate to good yields and steric hindrance does not seem to be a limitation as o-substituted anilines react readily.