Facile coupling of propargylic, allylic and benzylic alcohols with allylsilane and alkynylsilane, and their deoxygenation with Et3SiH, catalyzed by Bi(OTf)(3) in [BMIM][BF4] ionic liquid (IL), with recycling and reuse of the IL

Allyltrimethylsilane (allyl-TMS) reacts with propargylic alcohols 1a-1d in the presence of 10% Bi(OTf)(3) in [BMIM][BF4] solvent to furnish the corresponding 1,5-enynes in respectable isolated yields (87-93%) at room temperature. The utility of Bi(OTf)(3) as a superior catalyst was demonstrated in a survey study on coupling of allyl-TMS with 1a employing several metallic triflates (Bi, Ln, Al, Yb) as well as, B(C6F5)(3), Zn(NTf2)(2) and Bi(NO3)(3)center dot 5H(2)O. Coupling of cyclopropyl substituted propargylic alcohol 1e with allyl-TMS gave the skeletally intact 1,5-enyne and a ring opened derivative as a mixture. Coupling of propargylic/allylic alcohol 1f with allyl-TMS resulted in allylation at both benzylic (2 isomers) and propargylic positions, as major and minor products respectively. The scope of this methodology for allylation of a series of allylic and benzylic alcohols was explored. Chemoselective reduction of a host of propargylic, propagylic/allylic, bis-allylic, allylic, and benzylic alcohols with Et3SiH was achieved in high yields with short reaction times. The same approach was successfully applied to couple representative propargylic and allylic alcohols with 1-phenyl-2-trimethylsilylacetylene. The recovery and reuse of the ionic liquid (IL) was gauged in a case study with minimal decrease in isolated yields after six cycles.