Iridium‐Pyrazolato Complex Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Alkylation of Ketones and Arylacetonitriles with Primary Alcohols

Herein, we report the use of an air‐stable iridium pyrazolato complex as an effective catalyst for the α‐alkylation of ketones and arylacetonitriles with primary alcohols, employing borrowing hydrogen strategy. The alkylation reactions were efficiently conducted at 120 °C in toluene utilizing a very low catalyst loading (0.1 mol%). A broad range of ketones and arylacetonitriles, in combination with various aromatic and aliphatic primary alcohols, were successfully transformed into the corresponding α‐alkylated products. Additionally, quinoline derivatives were synthesized from 2‐aminobenzylalcohol and ketones using dehydrogenative coupling strategy. A mechanistic investigation unveiled that the key step involved alcohol activation via metal‐ligand cooperation.