Arylboronic Acid Catalyzed C -Alkylation and Allylation Reactions Using Benzylic Alcohols.

The arylboronic acid catalyzed dehydrative C -alkylation of 1,3-diketones and 1,3-ketoesters using secondary benzylic alcohols as the electrophile is reported, forming new C-C bonds (19 examples, up to 98% yield) with the release of water as the only byproduct. The process is also applicable to the allylation of benzylic alcohols using allyltrimethylsilane as the nucleophile (12 examples, up to 96% yield).