Indium Versus Gold Catalysis in Dehydrative Reactions with Allylic Alcohols

Indium(III) chloride can be used as a cheaper alternative to gold(I) complexes as a catalyst in dehydrative reactions with allylic alcohols. There is often an improvement in yield and, in particular, indium(III) chloride outperforms gold(I) as a catalyst in chemoselective reactions. For example, substrates with pendent alkyne or alkene groups react poorly under gold(I) catalysis, but are better tolerated under indium(III) chloride catalysis.