Indium-Mediated Addition of 4-Bromocrotonic Acid to Aldehydes and Ketones—A Simple, High Yielding Route to α-Allyl-β-Hydroxy Carboxylic Acids

Abstract

We report a simple procedure for the indium-mediated addition of 4-bromocrotonic acid to a variety of aldehydes and ketones. In all instances the reaction proceeds exclusively with α-addition and typically in moderate to good yields (42–100%). The effect of solvent is minimal allowing a wide choice of conditions (methanol, ethanol, ethanol/water, water, tetrahydrofuran, and the ionic liquid [bmIm][BF₄]).