A Barbier type reaction promoted by in situ formed active metal bismuth from NaBH4 and BiCl3 in aqueous media

In the presence of active metal bismuth (Bi*) which was prepared from the combination of bismuth trichloride and sodium borohydride, aldehydes have been found to react with allyl bromide in aqueous media, and the corresponding homoallylic alcohols were obtained in excellent yields with high chemo-and stereoselectivity.