Primary-Tertiary Diamine/Br?nsted Acid Catalyzed α-Allylation of Carbonyl Compounds with Allylic Alcohols.

A simple and direct α-allylic alkylation of unmodified aldehydes with allylic alcohols catalyzed by primary amine/Br⊘nsted acid has been developed. The N, N-dimethylethylenediamine/TfOH was identified as the optimal catalyst to promote this transformation via an enamine process in high yields (up to 88%) and with good diastereoselectivities (up to 9:1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]