The direct activation of C-O bonds in 2-butene-1,4-diol by palladium complexes has been accelerated by carrying out the reactions in the presence of a titanium reagent. Palladium-catalyzed tandem allylation of o-phenylenediamines with 2-butene-1,4-diol leads to 1,2,3,4,-tetrahydro-2-vinylquinoxalines(7).The cyclization of o-phenylenediamine with 2-butene-1,4-diol catalyzed by palladium acetate coordinated with (R)-BINAP as the chiral ligand leads to optically active 1,2,3,4,-tetrahydro-2-vinylquinoxaline (7a) with 19﹪ee and in 58﹪yield.