Rhodium-catalyzed cascade reactions: A methylenation–hydroboration homologative process

A very efficient rhodium-catalyzed cascade process allowing the transformation of aldehydes and ketones into their corresponding one or two-carbon homologated alcohol products through a methylenation–hydroboration sequence is reported. Wilkinson’s complex is used to catalyze both reactions in a one-pot procedure that does not require the isolation of the alkene intermediate.