Iron-Catalyzed Aerobic α,β-Dehydrogenation.

An iron-catalyzed direct aerobic α,β-dehydrogenation of carbonyls has been reported. The combination of tert -butyl nitrite and N -hydroxyphthalimide worked as the organo cocatalyst system; thus, no extra transition metal reagents are required. A large variety of lactams and flavanones as well as lactone and thiochromen-4-one could be produced via this method in high yields.