Iron-Catalyzed α-Alkylation of Ketones with Alcohols

Abstract

A general and benign iron-catalyzed α-alkylation reaction of ketones with primary alcohols has been developed. The key to success of the reaction is the use of a Knölker-type complex as catalyst (2 mol %) in the presence of Cs2 CO3 as base (10 mol %) under hydrogen-borrowing conditions. Using 2-aminobenzyl alcohol as alkylation reagent allows for the "green" synthesis of quinoline derivatives.

Keywords: Friedländer reaction; alkylation; borrowing hydrogen; homogeneous catalysis; iron catalysts.