Catalytic Cross-Coupling of Secondary Alcohols

Herein, an unprecedented ruthenium(II) catalyzed direct cross-coupling of two different secondary alcohols to β-disubstituted ketones is reported. Cyclic, acylic, symmetrical, and unsymmetrical secondary alcohols are selectively coupled with aromatic benzylic secondary alcohols to provide ketone products. A single catalyst oxidizes both secondary alcohols to provide selectively β-disubstituted ketones to broaden the scope of this catalytic protocol. Number of bond activation and bond formation reactions occur in selective sequence via amine-amide metal-ligand cooperation operative in Ru-MACHO catalyst. The product-induced diastereoselectivity was also observed. Kinetic and deuterium labeling experiments suggested that the aliphatic secondary alcohols undergo oxidation reaction faster than benzylic secondary alcohols, selectively assimilating to provide the cross-coupled products. Reactions are sensitive to steric hindrance. This new C-C bond forming methodology requires low catalyst load and catalytic amount of base. Notably, the reaction produces H₂ and H₂O as the only byproducts making the protocol greener, atom economical and environmentally benign.