title: Guerbet reaction of primary alcohols leading to beta-alkylated dimer alcohols catalyzed by iridium complexes.
abstract: [IrCl(cod)]2 and [Cp*IrCl2]2 complexes catalyzed efficiently the Guerbet reaction of primary alcohols to beta-alkylated dimer alcohols in good yields. For instance, the reaction of 1-butanol in the presence of [Cp*IrCl2]2 (1 mol %), t-BuOK (40 mol %), and 1,7-octadiene (10 mol %) produced 2-ethyl-1-hexanol in 93% yield. Various primary alcohols undergo the Guerbet reaction under the influence of Ir complexes to give the corresponding dimer alcohols in good yields. This method provides an alternative direct route to beta-alkylated primary alcohols which are prepared by aldol condensation of aldehydes followed by hydrogenation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering & High Technology Research Center, Kansai University, Suita, Osaka 564-8680, Japan.
authors.forename: Toyomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsu-ura
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Obora
authors.forename: Yasutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishii