Allylic cross-coupling using aromatic aldehydes as α-alkoxyalkyl anions.

The allylic cross-coupling using aromatic aldehydes as α-alkoxyalkyl anions is described. The synergistic palladium/copper-catalyzed reaction of aromatic aldehydes, allylic carbonates, and a silylboronate produces the corresponding homoallylic alcohol derivatives. This process involves the catalytic formation of a nucleophilic α-silyloxybenzylcopper(I) species and the subsequent palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution.