Indium Triiodide Catalyzed Direct Hydroallylation of Esters

The InI3‐catalyzed hydroallylation of esters by using hydro‐ and allysilanes under mild conditions has been accomplished. Many significant groups such as alkenyl, alkynyl, cyano, and nitro ones survive under these conditions. This reaction system provided routes to both homoallylic alcohols and ethers, in which either elimination of the alkoxy moiety or of the carbonyl oxygen atom could be freely selected by changing the substituents on the alkoxy moiety and on the hydrosilane. In addition, the hydroallylation of lactones took place without ring cleavage to produce the desired cyclic ethers in high yields.