Conversion of 1-alkenes into 1,4-diols through an auxiliary-mediated formal homoallylic C-H oxidation

The ubiquitous nature of C-H bonds in organic molecules makes them attractive as a target for rapid complexity generation, but brings with it the problem of achieving selective reactions. In developing new methodologies for C-H functionalization, alkenes are an attractive starting material because of their abundance and low cost. Here we describe the conversion of 1-alkenes into 1,4-diols. The method involves the installation of a new Si,N-type chelating auxiliary group on the alkene followed by iridium-catalysed C-H silylation of an unactivated δ-C(sp 3)-H bond to produce a silolane intermediate. Oxidation of the C-Si bonds affords a 1,4-diol. The method is demonstrated to have broad scope and good functional group compatibility by application to the selective 1,4-oxygenation of several natural products and derivatives.