Fe(III)-Catalyzed Hydroallylation of Unactivated Alkenes with Morita-Baylis-Hillman Adducts.

An Fe(III)-catalyzed hydroallylation of unactivated alkenes with Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts via an Fe-catalyzed process is described. A variety of alkenes, including mono-, di-, and trisubstituted alkenes, could all smoothly convert to structural diversified cinnamates in this protocol. Interestingly, when the hydroxyl-containing alkenes were used, various lactones could be rapidly assembled. Moreover, this protocol could be applied to late-stage functionalization of natural products.