Unsaturated malonyl esters underwent Pd-catalyzed intramolecular allylic alkylation to give 4-vinyl-substituted γ-lactones. In contrast to the previously studied cyclization of malonamides, this reaction could only be achieved with a substrate incorporating a judiciously positioned silicon moiety, which directs the ionization toward the desired η 3 -allyl-palladium complex. The resulting 4-[dimeth