Ruthenium-BINAP Catalyzed Alcohol C-H tert-Prenylation via 1,3-Enyne Transfer Hydrogenation: Beyond Stoichiometric Carbanions in Enantioselective Carbonyl Propargylation.

The chiral ruthenium complex formed in situ from (TFA)2Ru(CO)(PPh3)2 and (R)-BINAP is found to catalyze the enantioselective C-C coupling of diverse primary alcohols with the 1,3-enyne, TMSC≡CC(Me)═CH2, to form secondary homopropargyl alcohols bearing gem-dimethyl groups. All reagents for this byproduct-free coupling are inexpensive and commercially available, making this protocol a practical alternative to stoichiometric carbanions in enantioselective carbonyl reverse prenylation.