Gold- and silver-catalyzed allylic alkylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with allylic alcohols

A highly efficient gold- and silver-catalyzed allylic alkylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with allylic alcohols has been developed. The reaction was shown to proceed expediently for a wide variety of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and allylic alcohols, including 1 degrees and terminal ones, under very mild conditions at room temperature in good to excellent yields (55-96%). (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.