Divergent C-H oxidative radical functionalization of olefins to install tertiary alkyl motifs enabled by copper catalysis

Abstract

An efficient tertiary alkylation reaction of olefins with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds was developed by virtue of copper catalyst without the use of expensive ligands or additives. In contrast to alkyl Heck-type reaction, alkyl halide is not required. Notably, by varying the nitrogen and air atmosphere, the reaction selectively produces alkylation and alkylation-oxygenation products, respectively. Initial investigations revealed that an α-carbonyl alkyl radical species might be involved in the process.