Multistep Organocatalysis for the Asymmetric Synthesis of Multisubstituted Aldehydes from Allylic Alcohols

The combination of a copper complex and a chiral amine organocatalyst induces the formation of multifunctionalized aldehydes from aromatic and aliphatic allylic alcohols. Reactions occur with excellent levels of enantioselectivity, under environmentally benign conditions, and without involving stoichiometric amounts of chemical oxidants for the oxidation of the allylic alcohols or rigorous reaction conditions for transition-metal catalysis.