Iridium-Catalyzed Reactions Involving Transfer Hydrogenation, Addition, N-Heterocyclization, and Alkylation Using Alcohols and Diols as Key Substrates

This account gives an overview of iridium-catalyzed reactions developed by our group using mainly alcohols and diols as substrates. In the presented reactions, the iridium catalyst serves as a hydrogen acceptor from the alcohols giving iridium hydride, which is a key transient species. Herein, we report hydrogenation, alkylation, esterification, N-heterocyclization, and coupling reactions using alcohols and diols as reagents.