Iridium-catalyzed hydroacylation reactions of C1-substituted oxabenzonorbornadienes with salicylaldehyde: an experimental and computational study.

An experimental and theoretical investigation on the iridium-catalyzed hydroacylation of C-substituted oxabenzonorbornadienes with salicylaldehyde is reported. Utilizing commercially available [Ir(COD)Cl] in the presence of 5 M KOH in dioxane at 65 °C, provided a variety of hydroacylated bicyclic adducts in up to a 95% yield with complete stereo- and regioselectivity. The mechanism and origins of selectivity in the iridium-catalyzed hydroacylation reaction has been examined at the M06/Def2TZVP level of theory. The catalytic cycle consists of three key steps including oxidative addition into the aldehyde C-H bond, insertion of the olefin into the iridium hydride, and C-C bond-forming reductive elimination. Computational results indicate the origin of regioselectivity is involved in the reductive elimination step.