title: RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3-catalyzed α-alkylation of ketones with primary alcohols.
abstract: The α-alkylation reaction of ketones with primary alcohols to give α-alkylated ketones was achieved using RuHCl(CO)(PPh(3))(3) as a catalyst in the presence of Cs(2)CO(3) as a base. This reaction proceeds via an aldol condensation of ketones with aldehydes, formed via transfer dehydrogenation of alcohols, to give α,β-unsaturated ketones, which then undergo transfer hydrogenation with primary alcohols to give α-alkylated ketones and aldehydes, the latter of which participate in the next catalytic cycle. While the reaction of aliphatic primary alcohols was sluggish compared with that of benzylic alcohols, a catalytic amount of 1,10-phenanthroline was found to promote the alkylation dramatically.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka 599-8531, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuwahara
authors.forename: Takahide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukuyama
authors.forename: Ilhyong
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ryu