Search

The use of molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant in transition metal catalyzed oxidative process is an appealing and challenging task in organic synthetic chemistry. Here, we report a Ni‐catalyzed hydroxylarylation of unactivated alkenes enabled by a β‐diketone ligand with high efficiency and excellent regioselectivity employing molecular oxygen as the oxidant and hydroxyl source. This reaction features mild conditions, broad substrate scope and incredible heterocycle compatibility, providing a variety of β‐hydroxylamides, γ‐hydroxylamides, β‐aminoalcohols, γ‐aminoalcohols, and 1,3‐diols in high yields. The synthetic value of this methodology was demonstrated by the efficient synthesis of two bioactive compounds, (±)‐3′‐methoxyl citreochlorol and tea catechin metabolites M4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]