Palladium-catalyzed C-allylation of benzoins and an NHC-catalyzed three component coupling derived thereof: compatibility of NHC- and Pd-catalysts.

A large range of benzoins was successfully applied as C-nucleophiles in the palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation with several allyl acetates, resulting in functionalized tertiary homoallylic alcohols. A number of unsymmetrical benzoins can be coupled with high levels of regio- and chemoselectivity. Finally, the challenging compatibility of free N-heterocyclic carbenes with a palladium catalyst has been utilized in a number of metal- and organocatalyzed three-component coupling reactions.