Allylic etherification via Ir(I)/Zn(II) bimetallic catalysis

reaction: see text] An efficient allylic etherification of aliphatic alcohols with allylic carbonates has been achieved by an iridium catalysis using stoichiometric zinc alkoxides or a two-component bimetallic catalytic system where the Ir(I) catalyst acts on allylic carbonates to generate electrophiles while aliphatic alcohols are separately activated by Zn(II) coordination to function as nucleophilies. This reaction occurs with complete regiospecificity and tolerates a wide range of functional groups.