Regioselective Hydrohydroxyalkylation of Styrene with Primary Alcohols or Aldehydes via Ruthenium-Catalyzed C-C Bond Forming Transfer Hydrogenation

Transfer hydrogenative coupling of styrene with primary alcohols using the precatalyst HClRu(CO)(PCy(3) )(2) modified by AgOTf or HBF(4) delivers branched or linear adducts from benzylic or aliphatic alcohols, respectively. Related 2-propanol mediated reductive couplings also are described.