Zinc, tin, and indium mediated Barbier-type cross coupling between car
bonyl compounds and allyl halides have been investigated without addit
ional solvent. The indium mediated reactions proceed effectively under
solvent free conditions. To a more limited extent, the reactions were
found to be mediated by zinc and tin. Various carbonyl compounds are
transformed into the corresponding allylation product in this way. No
apparent competing pinacol-coupling or home-coupling of the allyl hali
de was observed.