Nickel-Catalyzed Homoallylation of Aldehydes and Ketones with 1,3-Dienes and Complementary Promotion by Diethylzinc or Triethylborane

Regio- and stereoselective homoallylation of saturated aldehydes and ketones to give bishomoallyl alcohols 1,3-anti-1 is achieved with [Ni(acac)2 ] (cat.) and Et2 Zn [Eq. (a)]. This new catalyst system thus complements the previously reported combination of [Ni(acac)2 ] with Et3 B, which offers advantages in the homoallylation of unsaturated and aromatic aldehydes. acac=acetylacetonato.