BrOnsted Acid Enabled Nickel-Catalyzed Hydroalkenylation of Aldehydes with Styrene and its Derivatives

A BrOnsted acid enabled nickel-catalyzed hydroalkenylation of aldehydes and styrene derivatives has been developed. The BrOnsted acid acts as a proton shuttle to transfer a proton from the alkene to the aldehyde, thereby leading to an economical and byproduct-free coupling. A series of synthetically useful allylic alcohols were obtained through one-step reactions from readily available styrene derivatives and aliphatic aldehydes in up to 88% yield and with high linear selectivity.