Allylic alcohols react with aldehydes, in an atom economic aldol-type reaction, in the presence of a catalytic amount of (dppe)NiHCl/MgBr2 mixture. This reaction occurs in good to excellent yields with total regiocontrol and very high chemo control under mild conditions. It is compatible with various types of aldehydes including very bulky ones.
allylic alcohols - double bond isomerization - aldol reaction - nickel hydrides