Ruthenium-catalyzed isomerization of allylic alcohols to saturated ketones

Abstract

Highly efficient ruthenium-catalyzed isomerizations of allylic alcohols to ketones have been developed. A dramatic rate enhancement by the presence of a catalytic amount of base was observed in the isomerization catalyzed by either RuCl 2(PPh 3) ( 3) or [RuCl 2(p-cymene)]2 ( 4). Dimetallic catalyst 5, which can itself serve as a base, led to a rapid reaction without the addition of extra base.