Allylation of aldehydes with potassium allyltrifluoroborate catalyzed by Amberlyst A-15

Abstract The use of the commercially available resin Amberlyst-15 as catalyst for allylation of aldehydes by potassium allyltrifluoroborate is described. The method features the use of a commercially available catalyst, aqueous media, and the products were obtained in high yields, short reaction times, at room temperature and no further purification. The catalyst was recovered and reused up to six times in further allylation reactions without significant yield losses. 11 B NMR experiments were conducted in order to evaluate the possible mechanism pathway. The formation of tricoordinate boron species was not observed.