Abstract Silver salts catalyze the benzylation and allylation of tertiary alkyl bromides with organozinc reagents. The reactions create quaternary carbon centers efficiently. Treatment of gem-dibromoalkanes with benzylic or allylic zinc reagents under silver catalysis leads to dibenzylation or diallylation. The functional-group compatibility of the present reactions is wider than that of the previous reactions with Grignard reagents.
