Air-stable hypervalent organobismuth(III) tetrafluoroborate as effective and reusable catalyst for the allylation of aldehyde with tetraallyltin

Air-stable hypervalent organobismuth(III) tetrafluoroborate (C6H11N(CH2C6H4)(2)BiBF4) was synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic techniques. The compound shows good catalytic efficiency in the allylation reaction of different aldehydes with tetraallyltin in a medium of aqueous methanol, giving the corresponding homoallylic alcohols in excellent chemoselectivity and yields. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.