Indium-mediated reaction of 1,3-dichloropropene with aldehyde gave syn-chlorohydrin predominantly. A similar reaction of 1,3-dibromopropene gave vinyloxirane and homoallyl alcohol; the former is formed from gamma-bromoallylindium via the corresponding bromohydrin, and the latter is considered to be derived from a unique allylic diindium reagent, 3,3-diindiopropene. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd