Catalytic Dehydrative Tsuji-Trost Reaction to Pursue Environmentally Benign “Dream” Organic Synthesis

Abstract

C-C coupling reaction is a fundamental process for construction of organic molecules. From the view point of environmentally benign organic synthesis, one of the most ideal process is catalytic dehydrative coupling reactions in which only water is produced as a waste. In this mini-review, Tsuji-Trost reaction of allyl alcohol with carbonyl compounds are described briefly as a representative process. Especially, Ni-catalyzed process employing aldehyde as a carbon pronucleophile recently developed by Sauthier et al. is introduced in detail. Their reaction do not require activator such as acid or base. The reaction condition they developed is also applicable for construction of a quaternary stereocenter with α, β-unsaturated aldehydes.