A General Direct Aldehyde C-H Alkylation via TBADT-Nickel Synergistic Catalysis

Herein, we present a nickel/tetrabutylammonium decatungstate (TBADT)-catalyzed protocol for general C-H alkylation of aldehydes, enabling the efficient synthesis of aliphatic ketones through ligand-controlled cross-coupling. This mild and cost-effective methodology demonstrates broad substrate compatibility with various commercially available aldehydes and both activated and unactivated alkyl bromides, delivering target products in high yields. Notably, the practical utility of this catalytic system has been highlighted through a concise two-step synthesis of the commercially valuable musk odorant Aurelione from readily available starting materials.