Quinoline-derived NNP-manganese complex catalyzed α-alkylation of ketones with primary alcohols.

An air-stable quinoline-derived NNP ligand chelated Mn catalyst was developed for the efficient α-alkylation of ketones with primary alcohols via a hydrogen auto-transfer methodology. The sole by-product formed is water, rendering the protocol atom efficient. A wide range of ketone and alcohol substrates were employed, providing the α-alkylated ketones with isolated yields up to 94%. This system was also efficient for the green synthesis of quinoline derivatives while using (2-aminophenyl)methanol as an alkylating reagent.