Gold(I)-Assisted α-Allylation of Enals and Enones with Alcohols.

The intermolecular α-allylation of enals and enones occurs by the condensation of variously substituted allenamides with allylic alcohols. Cooperative catalysis by [Au(ItBu)NTf2] and AgNTf2 enables the synthesis of a range of densely functionalized α-allylated enals, enones, and acyl silanes in good yield under mild reaction conditions. DFT calculations support the role of an α-gold(I) enal/enone as the active nucleophilic species.