Cobalt-catalyzed alkene hydrogenation by reductive turnover.

Earth abundant metal catalysts hold advantages in cost, environmental burden and chemoselectivity over precious metal catalysts. Differences in reactivity for a given metal center result from ligand field strength, which can promote reaction through either open- or closed-shell carbon intermediates. Herein we report a simple protocol for cobalt-catalyzed alkene reduction. Instead of using an oxidative turnover mechanism that requires stoichiometric hydride, we find a reductive turnover mechanism that requires stoichiometric proton. The reaction mechanism appears to involve coordination and hydrocobaltation of terminal alkenes.

Hydroalkylation of Olefins To Form Quaternary Carbons.

Metal-hydride hydrogen atom transfer (MHAT) functionalizes alkenes with predictable branched (Markovnikov) selectivity. The breadth of these transformations has been confined to π-radical traps; no sp3 electrophiles have been reported. Here we describe a Mn/Ni dual catalytic system that hydroalkylates unactivated olefins with unactivated alkyl halides, yielding aliphatic quaternary carbons.

Directed nickel-catalyzed 1,2-dialkylation of alkenyl carbonyl compounds.

A nickel-catalyzed conjunctive cross-coupling of non-conjugated alkenes, alkyl halides, and alkylzinc reagents is reported. Regioselectivity is controlled by chelation of a removable bidentate 8-aminoquinoline directing group. Under optimized conditions, a wide range of 1,2-dialkylated products can be accessed in moderate to excellent yields. To the best of our knowledge, this report represents the first example of three-component 1,2-dialkylation of non-conjugated alkenes to introduce differentiated alkyl fragments.