Synthesis of a-Alkylated Ketones via Tandem Acceptorless Dehydrogenation/a-Alkylation from Secondary and Primary Alcohols Catalyzed by Metal-Ligand Bifunctional Iridium Complex [Cp*Ir(2,2'-bpyO)(H2O)].

A new strategy for the synthesis of α-alkylated ketones via tandem acceptorless dehydrogenation/α-alkylation from secondary and primary alcohols was proposed and accomplished. In the presence of metal-ligand bifunctional iridium complex [Cp*Ir(2,2'-bpyO)(H2O)], various desirable products were obtained in high yields. Compared with previous methods for the direct dehydrogenative coupling of secondary alcohols with primary alcohols to α-alkylated ketones, this protocol has obvious advantages including complete selectivity for α-alkylated ketones and more environmentally benign conditions. Notably, the study also exhibited the potential to develop tandem reactions catalyzed using a metal-ligand bifunctional iridium complex.