Direct Lewis Acid Promoted C-Allylation of Alcohols with Allylsilanes

Significance

This report describes a simple and highly synthetically attractive catalytic method of a direct C-allylation of several classes of alcohols via the corresponding carbocationic species. Benzylic, tertiary, allylic and some kinds of secondary alcohols can be used in this reaction. Besides substituted allylsilanes, propargylic and allenylmethylsilanes can be used successfully. Relatively inexpensive InCl₃ (5 mol%) is used as the catalyst for this reaction. This process allows a simple preparation of various useful building blocks for organic synthesis, starting from cheap, readily available alcohols.