Hydroindation of 1,3-Dienes and One-Pot Allylation of Carbonyl Compounds

Significance

Hydrometallation of 1,3-dienes is an attractive method for the preparation of polysubstituted allylmetallic species. This is the first report concerning the generation of allylindium compounds by direct hydroindation of 1,3-dienes. Allyl­indium compounds possess some unique properties like stability toward water and acidic protons, which significantly broadens their utility compared with other allylmetallics. In this method, the hydroindating species (HInCl₂) are generated in situ by the reduction of InCl₃, and the resulting allylindium reacts with carbonyl compounds. Useful modifications of this reaction, like its enantio­selective version, can be anticipated.