A [3,3]-sigmatropic process catalysed by acetate. The decarboxylative Claisen rearrangement

Allylic tosylacetates and tosylmalonates undergo acetate-catalysed decarboxylative Claisen rearrangement in the presence of N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide. The homoallylic sulfones formed in these transformations correspond to the products of regiospecific allylation of sulfone-stabilised carbanions. A mechanistic rationale is proposed.