1. Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, Quai Ernest Ansermet 30, 1211 Geneva 4 (Switzerland), Fax: (+41)?22‐379‐3215;2. Laboratoire de Cristallographie, University of Geneva, Quai Ernest Ansermet 24, 1211 Geneva 4 (Switzerland)
Abstract:
Nothing to sm(Ir)k at : Under appropriate reaction conditions, iridium hydride catalysts promote the isomerization of primary allylic alcohols. The best catalysts, like (R)‐ 1 (P green, O red, N blue, Ir yellow), deliver the desired chiral aldehydes with excellent enantioselectivity and good yields. Mechanistic hypotheses have been developed on the basis of preliminary investigations.