Highly efficient indium-catalyzed chemoselective allylation–etherification and reductive etherification of aromatic aldehydes with functional silanes

Indium(III) chloride is an effective Lewis acid catalyst for one-pot allylation–etherification and reductive etherification of aromatic aldehydes with functional silanes, allyltriethoxysilane, and triethoxysilane, at room temperature to afford corresponding ethers in excellent yields. Additionally, the InCl3-catalyzed reactions in the presence of TMSCl offer significant advantages in its ease of working-up for the preparation of unsymmetrical ethers under mild conditions.