Copper-Catalyzed Oxidative Dehydrogenative Functionalization of Alkanes to Allylic Esters

Abstract Herein, we report a general, efficient and solvent-free method for the one-pot synthesis of allylic esters via dehydrogenation of unactivated alkanes and subsequent oxidative cross coupling with different substituted carboxylic acids. A simple, well defined and air stable Cu(II)-complex, [Cu(MeTAA)], featuring a tetraaza-macrocyclic ligand (tetramethyltetraaza [14] annulene (MeTAA)) is used as the catalyst. A wide variety of substituted allylic esters were synthesized in high yields starting from readily available starting materials. Control reactions were carried out to understand the reaction sequence and the plausible mechanism.