Tuning the selectivity in iridium-catalyzed acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of primary alcohols

An acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of primary alcohols to carboxylic acids/carboxylates, esters, and Guerbet alcohols (via both homo- and cross-beta-alkylation of the alcohols) in the presence of an N-heterocyclic carbene iridium(i) catalyst was developed under aerobic conditions. The product selectivity can be easily tuned among the products with a single catalyst through simple modification of the reaction conditions, such as the catalyst and base amounts, the choice of base, and the reaction temperature.

Automated summary

An acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of primary alcohols to carboxylic acids/carboxylates, esters, and Guerbet alcohols was developed under aerobic conditions using an N-heterocyclic carbene iridium(i) catalyst. The selectivity of the products can be easily adjusted by modifying reaction conditions such as catalyst and base amounts, choice of base, and reaction temperature.