o-(Silylmethyl)benzylic carbonates reacted with various conjugated olefins in the presence of the palladium catalyst, which was generated in situ from Pd(eta(3)-C3H5)Cp and 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (DPPE). The reaction provided 2- and/or 3-substituted tetralins in good yield. The catalytic reaction described here is equivalent to the [4+2] cycloaddition of o-xylylenes with dienophiles.