FeCl(3).6H(2)O catalyzed disproportionation of allylic alcohols and selective allylic reduction of allylic alcohols and their derivatives with benzyl alcohol.

Iron chloride has been found to be an efficient catalyst for the disproportionation of allylic alcohols, which provides a convenient method for selective transformation of allylic alcohols to alkenes and alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones. Furthermore, this catalytic system is also effective for highly selective allylic reduction of allylic alcohols, allylic ethers, and allylic acetates with benzyl alcohol under neutral and convenient reaction conditions.