Manganese-Catalyzed β-Alkylation of Secondary Alcohols with Primary Alcohols under Phosphine-Free Conditions

Manganese(I) complexes bearing a pyridyl-supported pyrazolyl-imidazolyl ligand efficiently catalyzed the direct β-alkylation of secondary alcohols with primary alcohols under phosphine-free conditions. The β-alkylated secondary alcohols were obtained in moderate to good yields with water formed as the byproduct through a borrowing hydrogen pathway. β-Alkylation of cholesterols was also effectively achieved. The present protocol provides a concise atom-economical method for C–C bond formation from primary and secondary alcohols.