Synthesis of Enantioenriched ( Z )-Disubstituted Allylic Alcohols via Ru-Catalyzed Selective Dehydrogenation.

A highly efficient kinetic resolution of allylic alcohols with Z/E mixtures was achieved via Ru-catalyzed selective dehydrogenation. Not only allylic alcohols were obtained with pure Z -geometry, but the corresponding selectivity factors rank among the few highest for kinetic resolution reported in the literature.