Iron-catalyzed directed alkylation of aromatic and olefinic carboxamides with primary and secondary alkyl tosylates, mesylates, and halides.

Alkenes, arenes, and heteroarenes possessing an 8-quinolylamide group as the directing group are alkylated with primary and secondary alkyl tosylates, mesylate, and halides in the presence of Fe(acac)3/diphosphine as a catalyst and ArZnBr as a base. The reaction proceeds stereospecifically for alkene substrates and takes place without loss of regiochemical integrity of the starting secondary tosylate, but with loss of the stereochemistry of the chiral center.