Iron-catalyzed electrochemical allylation of carbonyl compounds by allylic acetates.

Homoallylic alcohols were synthesized from aldehydes or ketones and allylic acetates, using an electrochemical process catalyzed by iron complexes. We first studied the reactivity of allyl acetate, using N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) or acetonitrile (AN) as solvent, FeBr(2) as catalyst, and Fe as the sacrificial anode. Then we tested the regioreactivity of crotyl acetate and other allylic derivatives.