Direct Synthesis of Cycloalkanes from Diols and Secondary Alcohols or Ketones Using a Homogeneous Manganese Catalyst

A method for the synthesis of substituted cycloalkanes was developed using diols and secondary alcohols or ketones via a cascade hydrogen borrowing sequence. A non-noble and air-stable manganese catalyst (2 mol %) was used to perform this transformation. Various substituted 1,5-pentanediols (3-4 equiv) and substituted secondary alcohols (1 equiv) were investigated to prepare a collection of substituted cyclohexanes in a diastereoselective fashion. Similarly, cyclopentane, cyclohexane, and cycloheptane rings were constructed from substituted 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, and 1,6-hexanediol, and sterically hindered ketones following a (4 + 1), (5 + 1), and (6 + 1) strategy, respectively. This reaction provides an atom economic methodology to construct two C-C bonds at a single carbon center generating high-value cycloalkanes from readily available alcohols as feedstock using an earth-abundant metal catalyst.