An Improved Two-Step Synthetic Route to Primary Allylic Alcohols from Aldehydes.

An improved two-step synthetic route to allylic alcohols from aldehydes has been developed. A modification of the HWE reaction in H2O–2-PrOH (1 ∶ 1) and a convenient protocol to prepare AlH3 in THF from LiAlH4 and n-BuBr are the key factors in the improvement.