Rhodium-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions using indium(III) organometallics.

A novel rhodium-catalyzed allylic substitution reaction using indium organometallics is reported. Aryl- and heteroarylindium reagents reacted in THF at 80 °C with primary and secondary allyl halides and their derivatives under rhodium(I) catalysis to afford the α-substituted products in good yields and with high regio- and stereoselectivity. The reaction takes place with substoichiometric amounts of the triorganoindium reagents, which demonstrates the efficiency of the indium–rhodium transmetallation process in carbon–carbon bond-forming reactions.