Mild rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H allylation with 4-vinyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-ones: direct and stereoselective synthesis of (E)-allylic alcohols.

A rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H direct allylation reaction with 4-vinyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-ones has been developed. The reaction provides a facile and stereoselective access to substituted-(E)-allylic alcohols under mild and redox-neutral reaction conditions. Olefinic C-H activation is applicable, giving multifunctionalized skipped dienes in good yields. Minimal double-bond migration was observed.