Allylic Alcohols as Substrate for Ruthenium‐Catalyzed CC Coupling Allylation Reactions. Preliminary Communication

Allylic alcohols, rather than halides, acetates, or carbonates can be used directly in the Friedel–Crafts‐type coupling with various phenols. The use of a RuIV, rather than a RuII, precursor promotes the formation of one H+ per cycle so that a large excess of acid is never present in the reaction mixture. Consequently, the leaving group in the oxidative addition reaction is H2O, thereby avoiding the production of an unnecessary by‐product.