[bmim][Br] as a Solvent and Activator for the Ga-Mediated Barbier Allylation: Direct Formation of an N‑Heterocyclic Carbene from Ga Metal

The room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) [bmim]­[Br] has been found to be an excellent green and inexpensive medium for the Ga-mediated allylation of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes and ketones. The RTIL activated the metal via formation of a Ga–N–heterocyclic carbene complex that assisted in the completion of the reaction at ambient temperature with only 0.5 equiv of Ga and 1.2 equiv of allyl bromide with respect to the carbonyl substrates. The present protocol required a much shorter time than those reported in the literature using other metals and solvents and proceeded with good yields and excellent selectivity.