Chemoselective allylation of aldehydes using cerium(III) chloride: simple synthesis of homoallylic alcohols

Aldehydes undergo smooth nucleophilic addition with allyltributylstannane in the presence of CeCl3·7H2O in acetonitrile under extremely mild reaction conditions to afford the corresponding homoallylic alcohols in excellent yields with high chemoselectivity. This method is very useful especially for the allylation of aldehydes bearing acid sensitive functionalities such as TBDMS, THP ethers, acetonides, aryl alkyl ethers and carbamates.