Indium- and zinc-mediated allylation of difluoroacetyltrialkylsilanes in aqueous media

Metal-mediated allylations of difluoroacetyltriakylsilanes with various allyl bromides in aqueous media form homoallylic alcohols exclusively. The common Brook rearrangement, carbon to oxygen-silyl migration, is totally suppressed with no detectable formation of silyl enol ether. Influence of solvents on reaction is studied. Reactivity differences between indium and zinc are also described.