Ruthenium-Catalyzed CC Coupling of Fluorinated Alcohols with Allenes: Dehydrogenation at the Energetic Limit of [beta]-Hydride Elimination

Ruthenium(II) complexes catalyze the CC coupling of 1,1-disubstituted allenes and fluorinated alcohols to form homoallylic alcohols bearing all-carbon quaternary centers with good to complete levels of diastereoselectivity. Whereas fluorinated alcohols are relatively abundant and tractable, the corresponding aldehydes are often not commercially available because of their instability.