Abstract
Under iridium-catalyzed conditions, 2-aza-aryl-substituted secondary alcohols undergo C(sp(3))-H addition reactions to alkynes to provide alkenylated tertiary alcohols. The processes occur with very high regio- and enantioselectivity. An analogous addition to styrene is shown to provide a prototype C(sp(3))-H alkylation process. A mechanism based on directed aza-enolization of the reactant alcohol is proposed.