Ru-Catalyzed Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling between Primary Alcohols to Guerbet Alcohol Derivatives: with Relevance for Fragrance Synthesis

A simple method has been developed for the cross dehydrogenative coupling between two different primary alcohols using readily available RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃ as a precatalyst through the borrowing-hydrogen approach. The present methodology is applicable to a large variety of alcohol derivatives including long chain aliphatic alcohols and heteroaryl alcohols. In addition, the methodology was applied in a straightforward protocol to synthesize commercially available fragrances such as Rosaphen and Cyclamenaldehyde in good yields.