Synthesis of chiral homoallylic alcohols from aldehydes and diallyltin dibromide in the presence of monosodium-(+)-diethyl tartrate

The reaction of dillyltin dibromide, readily prepared from allyl bromide and tin powder, with aldehydes in the presence of monosodium-(+)-diethyl tartrate affords the corresponding homoallylic alcohols in good yields with enantiomeric excesses in the range 42 to 71%.