π-Allylpalladium intermediates are known to participate efficiently in transformations involving nucleophilic species. Exploring these processes, we have developed a method for the preparation of allyl acetates via palladium-catalysed functionalisation of allenes and 1,3-dienes. Reactions of aryl iodides with either of these two classes of compounds and excess sodium acetate in the presence of Pd(OAc)2