Inter- and intramolecular carbonyl-ene reactions have been developed using 5 mol%
Fe(BF4)2 as catalyst, affording homoallylic alcohols in 36–87% isolated yields. This catalyst,
prepared from FeCl2 and AgBF4, is the first FeII Lewis acid reported for the carbonyl-ene reaction using ethyl trifluoropyruvate.
The method was successfully applied to the reaction of various 1,1-disubstituted alkenes
with ethyl trifluoropyruvate and to the cyclization of citronellal.
Key words
ene reaction - Lewis acids - iron - trifluoropyruvate - cyclization