Iridium-catalyzed oxidative dimerization of primary alcohols to esters using 2-butanone as an oxidant

Oxidative dimerization of primary alcohols with 2-butanone in the presence of an amino alcohol-based Ir bifunctional catalyst was accomplished for the first time. The reaction proceeds with 1-2 mol% of the catalyst and 0.3 mol equivalents of K2CO3 in 2-butanone at room temperature to give the corresponding dimeric esters in 30-93% yield.