Iron-Catalyzed β-Alkylation of Alcohols.

β-Branched alkylated alcohols have been prepared in good yields using a double-hydrogen autotransfer strategy in the presence of our diaminocyclopentadienone iron tricarbonyl complex Fe1. The alkylation of some 2-arylethanol derivatives was successfully addressed with benzylic alcohols and methanol as alkylating reagents under mild conditions. Deuterium labeling experiments suggested that both alcohols (2-arylethanol and either methanol or benzyl alcohol) served as hydrogen donors in this cascade process.