Epoxides with tetraallyltin

Stereoselective addition of allyl metal reagents to various functionalities is an important reaction in organic synthesis [32, 33]. The allylation of epoxides and aziridines with allyltin reagent is catalyzed by Lewis acids. Even though many Lewis acids have been reported to catalyze this reaction, Bi(OTf)3 is distinct because it avoids the formation of byproducts and is also environmentally more compatible. It catalyzes the reaction of aryl epoxides with tetraallyltin to afford the corresponding homoallyllic alcohol [34]. 

Reaction of styrene oxide with tetraallyltin in the presence of Bi(OTf)3 (2 mol%) affords the corresponding l-phenyl-4-penten-2-ol (Fig. 5). In a similar fashion, various aryl substituted epoxides react smoothly with tetraallyltin to give the corresponding homoallylic alcohols. This method give generality as cycloalkyl oxiranes and sterically hindered ones give the corresponding homoallylic alcohols. 

Certain Lewis acids are known to induce an epoxide-aldehyde rearrangement <01TL8129>, and this chemistry has recently been combined in tandem with metal-mediated allylations. For example, epoxides react with tetraallyltin in the presence of bismuth(III) triflate to give homoallylic alcohols 116. The reaction involves an initial 1,2-shift to form an aldehyde 115, which is then attacked by the allyl tin species <03TL6501>. A similar but operationally more straightforward protocol is available by combining allyl bromide with indium metal, followed by the addition of epoxide <03TL2911>. 

---