Iridium-catalyzed asymmetric isomerization of primary allylic alcohols.

Nothing to sm(Ir)k at: Under appropriate reaction conditions, iridium hydride catalysts promote the isomerization of primary allylic alcohols. The best catalysts, like (R)-1 (P green, O red, N blue, Ir yellow), deliver the desired chiral aldehydes with excellent enantioselectivity and good yields. Mechanistic hypotheses have been developed on the basis of preliminary investigations.