To further understand the role and compatibility of each catalyst we performed control experiments. Introduction of the Pd catalyst XantPhos ligand and sodium malonate nucleophile from the beginning of the reaction led to recovery of starting 1a. On the other hand, introduction of Pd catalyst and XantPhos ligand from the beginning of the reaction, followed by sodium malonate nucleophile after the first substitution afforded the desired product with similar efficiency compared to the general conditions. Finally, without BF3•Et2O the reaction did not proceed.