Iridium-Catalyzed C-Alkylation of Methyl Group on N-Heteroaromatic Compounds using Alcohols.

In this study, we developed a catalytic system for the C-alkylation of a methyl group on N-heteroaromatic compounds, including pyridine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, quinoline, quinoxaline, and isoquinoline, using alcohols based on a hydrogen-borrowing process with [Cp*IrCl2]2 (Cp*: η5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) combined with potassium t-butoxide and 18-crown-6-ether as the catalyst precursor.