Transfer Hydrogenation in Iterative Elongation of Alcohols

Significance

The authors report an iterative elongation of alcohols through an iridium-catalyzed allylation. Transfer hydrogenation has recently received a considerable amount of attention, and this report showcases an application of this method. Expanding the authors’ earlier work with analogous alcohols (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 14891), the reaction sequence reported herein allows for the synthesis of all diastereo­mers of 1,3-polyols depicted above.