Aqueous ZnCl2 Complex Catalyzed Prins Reaction of Silyl Glyoxylates: Access to Functionalized Tertiary alpha-Silyl Alcohols.

An efficient Prins reaction of silyl glyoxylates in the presence of an aqueous ZnCl2 complex as a catalyst was developed, providing functionalized tertiary alpha-silyl alcohols in high yields under mild conditions. A preliminary investigation indicated that the aqueous ZnCl2 complex acted as a dual functional catalyst of Bronsted and Lewis acid to activate the carbonyl groups of silyl glyoxylates via a dual-activation model.