A BINOL–terpyridine-based multi-task catalyst for a sequential oxidation and asymmetric alkylation of alcohols

Treatment of a BINOL–terpyridine compound with RuCl3 generates a Ru(II) complex (R)-6. This complex is found to be a novel multi-task catalyst capable of conducting a sequential oxidation and asymmetric alkyl addition to convert primary alcohols to chiral secondary alcohols. The terpyridine–Ru(II) site of (R)-6 catalyzes an efficient oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes which then undergo an enantioselective alkylation to generate chiral secondary alcohols when the BINOL site of (R)-6 is combined with ZnEt2 and Ti(OiPr)4.