Direct carboxylation of allylic halides with carbon dioxide in the presence of indium.

A highly regioselective indium-mediated allylation of carbon dioxide starting from simple allylic halides (X = I, Br, Cl) has been developed. No transition metal catalyst is needed and an inert atmosphere is not necessary. The reaction tolerates a wide range of synthetically attractive functional groups with a very high branched regioselectivity.