Divergent C–H Oxidative Radical Functionalization of Olefins to Install Tertiary Alkyl Motifs Enabled by Copper Catalysis

An efficient tertiary alkylation reaction of olefins with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds was developed by virtue of copper catalyst without the use of expensive ligands or additives. In contrast to alkyl Heck-type reaction, alkyl halide is not required. Notably, by varying the nitrogen and air atmosphere, the reaction selectively produces alkylation and alkylation-oxygenation products, respectively. Initial investigations revealed that an α-carbonyl alkyl radical species might be involved in the process.