Boronic Acid Catalyzed Friedel-Crafts Reactions of Allylic Alcohols with Electron-Rich Arenes and Heteroarenes

Pentafluorophenylboronic acid catalyzes the regioselective coupling of structurally diverse allylic alcohols with I variety of electron-rich aromatic and heteroaromatic substrates under ambient conditions. The commercially available catalyst is recoverable and air and moisture stable, and the reaction produces water as the only byproduct.