Efficient Synthesis of β‐Hydroxy Ketones from Allylic Alcohols by Catalytic Formation of Ruthenium Enolates

The most efficient Ru-catalyzed isomerization–aldol reaction from allylic alcohols has been achieved by using [η5-(Ph5Cp)Ru(CO)2Cl] as the catalyst. The bulky pentaphenylcyclopentadienyl ligand on the ruthenium atom prevents protonation at the oxygen of the Ru–enolate intermediate and completely suppresses the formation of unwanted ketone byproducts (see scheme). The domino transformation is as good as it can be: aldols are obtained in quantitative yields at ambient temperature.