3-Bromo-propenyl acetate in organic synthesis. The zinc-promoted α-hydroxyallylation of ketones

3-Bromo-propenyl acetate easily undergoes oxidative addition by zinc, both under Barbier or Grignard conditions. The resulting acetoxyallylzinc species are reported to react efficiently with ketones, thus widening the scope of the 3-bromo-propenyl acetate route to homoallylic alcohols. Barbier conditions in water or a Grignard two-step protocol in the THF/DMSO binary solvent system are used, depending on the ketone reactivity.