Electrochemical allylation of aldehydes and ketones with allylic alcohols

Abstract

We disclose herein an electrochemical allylation of unactivated aldehydes and ketones with allylic alcohols. A wide variety of homoallylic alcohols can be obtained by treatment of aldehydes/ketones with allyl alcohols in a simple undivided cell at room temperature. In contrast to previous strategies using allyl organometallic reagents, allylsilicon, allylboron and allyl halides as the allylic precursors, the present method used allyl alcohols as effective surrogates, which makes it more practical and environmentally sustainable.