Activation of Alcohols with Carbon Dioxide: Intermolecular Allylation of Weakly Acidic Pronucleophiles

[Image: see text] The direct coupling of allyl alcohols with nitroalkanes, nitriles, and aldehydes using catalytic Pd(PPh(3))(4) has been accomplished via activation of C–OH bonds with CO(2). The in situ formation of carbonates from alcohols and CO(2) facilitates oxidative addition to Pd to form reactive π-allylpalladium intermediates. In addition, the formation of a strong base activates nucleophiles toward the reaction with the π-allylpalladium electrophile. Overall, this atom economical reaction provides a new C–C bond without the use of an external base and generates water as the only byproduct.