A simple, inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and highly efficient benzylation and allylation of 1, 3-dicarbonyl compounds with sulfonamides in the presence of Yb (OTf) 3 is described. Yb (OTf) 3 was proved to be a good catalyst for the cleavage of sp3 carbon– nitrogen bond. Various 1, 3-dicarbonyl compounds can couple with a broad range of tosyl- activated benzylic and allylic amines to give diversely functionalized products in good to ...