Palladium catalysed hydrostannylation of (Bu(3)SnH, THF, degrees C) of delta- and omega-allenyl aryl halides followed by mono- or bis-cyclisation (MeCN, 80 degrees C) affords small (5-7), large (11-17) and spirocyclic rings in which cyclisation occurs at the proximal carbon of the original allene. The reaction proceeds via stereoselective allylstannane formation. The cyclisation products are alpha-vinyl oxygen- and nitrogen-heterocycles. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd