Fast and highly regioselective allylation of indole and pyrrole compounds by allyl alcohols using Ru-sulfonate catalysts

New Ru-sulfonate catalysts have been synthesized and shown to very rapidly allylate indole and pyrrole compounds using allyl alcohols as substrates. The observed regioselectivity is exceptionally high (up to 100% of the branched isomer). Density functional theory calculations explain these results.