Lewis Acid Catalyzed Friedel-Crafts Alkylation of Alkenes with Trifluoropyruvates

A Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of styrenes with trifluoropyruvates has been developed, which delivered allylic alcohols in excellent yields (up to 98%) using the Ni(ClO4)(2)center dot 6H(2)O/bipyridine complex as a catalyst. The asymmetric reaction was catalyzed by the chiral Cu(OTf)(2)/bisoxazoline complex to afford the corresponding chiral allylic alcohols bearing trifluoromethylated quaternary stereogenic centers in moderate enantioselectivities (up to 75% ee).