Abstract The efficient iron-catalyzed direct β-alkylation of secondary alcohols with primary alcohols is described. In the presence of the commercially available iron catalyst ( ferrocenecarboxaldehyde, 1b) and a catalytic amount of base, the reactions give β-alkylated higher alcohols in high yields in the absence of any sacrificial agents (hydrogen acceptors or hydrogen donors) and nitrogen or phosphorus ligands. For the first time, iron is ...
