Efficient Iron-Catalyzed Direct ß-Alkylation of Secondary Alcohols with Primary Alcohols

The efficient iron-catalyzed direct beta-alkylation of secondary alcohols with primary alcohols is described. In the presence of the commercially available iron catalyst (ferrocenecarboxaldehyde, 1b) and a catalytic amount of base, the reactions give beta-alkylated higher alcohols in high yields in the absence of any sacrificial agents (hydrogen acceptors or hydrogen donors) and nitrogen or phosphorus ligands. For the first time, iron is employed as an inexpensive and environmentally benign alternative with high atom efficiency to noble metal-based catalysts in this type of reaction.