The general use of carbocations as synthetic intermediates is limited by the strongly acidic conditions required for their generation.(1) Indeed, despite the relative stability of benzylic, allylic, and propargylic carbocations,(2) harsh conditions are often required for their formation. During our recent studies on the reactions of allylic alcohols, we wished to initiate the formation of allylic cations under mild, nonacidic reaction conditions. Since our desired allylic alcohol precursors could ...
