Stereoselective Synthesis of Cyclohexanes via an Iridium Catalyzed (5 + 1) Annulation Strategy.

Akhtar WM, Armstrong RJ, Frost JR, Stevenson NG, Donohoe TJ

An iridium catalyzed method for the synthesis of functionalized cyclohexanes from methyl ketones and 1,5-diols is described. This process operates by two sequential hydrogen borrowing reactions, providing direct access to multisubstituted cyclic products with high levels of stereocontrol. This methodology represents a novel (5 + 1) strategy for the stereoselective construction of the cyclohexane core.