Abstract A direct method for the synthesis of β, β-disubstituted-α, β-unsaturated aldehydes via Heck reaction of aryl halides with crotonaldehyde and related substrates has been developed. The reaction provides rapid access to products usually prepared via multistep sequences. The power of the method in combination with an organocatalytic transfer hydrogenation is illustrated with a short asymmetric synthesis of (S)-Florhydral®.
