LIAL(OC(PH)(CF3)(2))(4) - A HYDROCARBON-SOLUBLE CATALYST FOR CARBON-CARBON BOND-FORMING REACTIONS

The compound LiAl(OC(Ph)(CF3)(2))(4) (1), prepared from LiAlH4 and HOC (Ph)(CF3)(2), is an active Lewis acid catalyst in toluene solution for the 1,4-conjugate addition of silyl ketene acetals to alpha beta-unsa turated carbonyl compounds and for the direct substitution of allylic acetates by silyl ketene acetals. The structure of 1 contains a rare t rigonal prismatic coordination sphere around the Li+ cation, with two Li-O(C, Al) bonds and four-Li-F(C) bonds.