Treatment of [PdI(Ph)(PPh3)]2 with allenes CH2═C═CHR (R = CMe3, CO2Et, P(O)(OEt)2, and SO2Ph) in dichloromethane at room temperature produces a mixture of cis and trans isomers of the π-allyl palladium complexes PdI(η3-CH2C(Ph)CHR)(PPh3) in which the R group is anti to the Ph group. The disubstituted allenes MeCH═C═CHR (R = P(O)(OEt)2 and SO2Ph) similarly react with [PdI(Ph)(PPh3)]2 to give the π-allyl palladium complexes PdI(η3-MeCHC(Ph)CHR)(PPh3) in which the R group is anti and the Me group is syn to the Ph group.

Treatment of RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)(3) with CH2=C=CHCO2Me gives the allyl complex Ru(77 3 -CH2CHCHCO2Me)CI(CO)(PPh3)(2). The analogous allyl complexes Os(eta(3)-CH2CHCHR)Cl(CO)(PPh3)(2) (R = Ph, CH2Ph) are also produced from the reactions of OsHCI(CO)(PPh3)(3) with CH2=C=CHR. In contrast, MHCl(PPh3)(3) (M = Ru, Os) react with CH2=C=CHR to give the vinyl complexes MCl((C(CH3)=CHR)(CH2 C=CHR)(PPh3)(2) (M = Ru, R = CMe3, M = Os, R = CMe3, Ph, CO2Et).