Allylic alcohols as substrate for ruthenium-catalyzed C-C coupling allylation reactions

Allylic alcohols, rather than halides, acetates, or carbonates can be used directly in the Friedel-Crafts-type coupling with various phenols. The use of a Ru-IV rather than a Ru-II, precursor promotes the formation of one H+ per cycle so that a large excess of acid is never present in the reaction mixture. Consequently, the leaving group in the oxidative addition reaction is H2O, thereby avoiding the production of an unnecessary by-product.