Divergent preparation of allenyl tosylates and α-tosyloxy ketones by facile and efficient isomerization of CF3-containing propargylic tosylates

Treatment of trifluoromethylated propargylic tosylates with hydroxides in a water-organic biphasic solvent system efficiently led to isomerization to allenyl tosylates or hydration to α-tosyloxy ketones at room temperature, just by selection of appropriate reaction conditions.