Switchable Site-Selective Catalytic Carboxylation of Allylic Alcohols with CO.

A switchable site-selective catalytic carboxylation of allylic alcohols has been developed in which CO is used with dual roles, both facilitating C-OH cleavage and as a C source. This protocol is characterized by its mild reaction conditions, absence of stoichiometric amounts of organometallic reagents, broad scope, and exquisite regiodivergency which can be modulated by the type of ligand employed.