Enantioselective Formation of All-Carbon Quaternary Centers via C-H Functionalization of Methanol: Iridium-Catalyzed Diene Hydrohydroxymethylation

J Am Chem Soc. 2016 Nov 2;138(43):14210-14213. doi: 10.1021/jacs.6b09333. Epub 2016 Oct 20.

Abstract

The first catalytic enantioselective C-C couplings of methanol (>30 × 106 tons/year) are reported. Insertion of 2-substituted dienes into the methanol C-H bond occurs in a regioselective manner to form all-carbon quaternary centers with excellent levels of enantioselectivity using an iridium-PhanePhos catalyst. Mechanistic studies corroborate a Curtin-Hammett scenario in which methanol dehydrogenation triggers rapid, reversible diene hydrometalation en route to regioisomeric allyliridium-formaldehyde pairs, yet single constitutional isomers are formed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkenes / chemistry*
  • Carbon / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Hydrogen / chemistry*
  • Iridium / chemistry*
  • Methanol / chemistry*
  • Methylation
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Alkenes
  • Iridium
  • Carbon
  • Hydrogen
  • Methanol