Several alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones underwent the Sakurai reaction with allyltrimethylsilane in the presence of InCl3 using [bmim]PF6 or [bmim]BF4 as the solvent. InCl3 was a more effective catalyst in either of these two ionic liquids than in the normal solvent of choice, CH,Cl,. However, the choice of ionic liquid had little influence on yields of the delta,epsilon-unsaturated ketone product. We also investigated alternative classical solvents to CH2Cl2, i.e. THF and DMF and it was found that the Sakurai reaction did not occur in these under the general conditions used. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.