Rapid access to homoallylic alcohols via Pd(OAc)2 catalyzed Barbier type allylation in presence of DMAP

DMAP was found to accelerate significantly the rate of Pd(OAc)2 catalyzed Barbier type allylation of carbonyl compounds by allylbromide using SnCl2·2H2O as reducing agent. Both aldehyde as well as ketones produced excellent yields within a short reaction time in the presence of 3 mol % of Pd(OAc)2 and 12 mol % of DMAP at room temperature. Aldehydes could be allylated within 5–10 min whereas, in case of ketones, the reaction completes in 45–120 min.