A new strategy for the synthesis of aryl- and heteroaryl-substituted exocyclic olefins from allyl alcohols using PBr3

Treatment of aryl and heteroaryl substituted allyl alcohols 7–14 with phosphorus tribromide at 0 °C furnished a new series of substituted exocyclic olefins 15–22 in good yields. The +I inductive effect of substituents on the aryl group is described.