Carbocation Lewis Acid TrBF4-Catalyzed 1,2-Hydride Migration: Approaches to (Z)-α,β-Unsaturated Esters and α-Branched β-Ketocarbonyls.

Carbocation Lewis acid TrBF4-catalyzed 1,2-hydride migration of α-alkyldiazoacetates themselves or in situ-generated cross-coupling adducts of aldehydes and α-alkyldiazoacetates has been developed, affording (Z)-α,β-unsaturated esters and α-branched β-ketocarbonyls, respectively, in good yields and with high regioselectivities.