Nickel‐Catalysed Bis‐Allylation of Activated Nucleophiles with Allyl Alcohol

Abstract

Abstract Nickel‐based catalysis allows the efficient bis‐allylation of soft nucleophiles with allylic alcohols. The reaction is best promoted by a combination of Ni(cod) 2 (cod = cyclooctadienyl) and diphenylphosphinobutane under additive‐free conditions. Alternatively, nickel(II) precursors can be used provided that a reductant is used to generate the nickel(0) species. The NiCl 2 /Zn combination is particularly simple, and can advantageously replace the use of the more air‐sensitive Ni(cod) 2 precursor. The scope of the reaction was studied with nucleophiles and allylic derivatives suitable for bis‐allylation reactions.