Gallium-mediated allyl transfer from bulky homoallyl alcohol to aldehydes or alkynes: Control of dynamic σ-allylgalliums based on retro-allylation reaction

A new method for the preparation and control of dynamic σ-allylgalliums is disclosed. Upon treatment with a Grignard reagent and gallium trichloride, bulky homoallyl alcohols undergo gallium-mediated retro-allylation reaction to provide σ-allylgallium reagents. The σ-allylgallium reagents generated were applied to carbonyl allylation. The retro-allylation reaction generates (Z)- and (E)-σ-crotylgalliums stereospecifically, starting from erythro- and threo-homoallyl alcohols, respectively. The stereochemically defined crotylgallium reagents effected stereoselective allylation of aldehydes. Allylgallation reaction of alkynes with the allylgallium reagents prepared by retro-allylation is also described.