A facile method for the preparation of bishomopropargylic alcohols from acyl chlorides

Controlled dilithiation of propargyl bromide with two equivalents of n-butyllithium, in the presence of TMEDA, produces the operational equivalent of the dianion 1,3-dilithiopropyne. The latter reacts efficiently with acid chlorides to produce bishomopropargylic alcohols in a single step route and with high regioselectivity and moderate yields.