An
organocatalyzed metal-free, direct olefination of aldehydes
with vinyliodonium salts has been achieved by an <i>N</i>-heterocyclic carbene-promoted C–H bond activation. The reaction
proceeds under very mild conditions, delivering a range of (hetero)aryl-vinyl
ketones in good yields. The retention of the double bond configuration
is uniformly observed, and the application of 2-methoxyphenyl auxiliary
group in iodonium salts secures a complete selectivity of the vinyl
transfer
