An air-stable cationic iridium hydride as a highly active and general catalyst for the isomerization of terminal epoxides.

We describe the use of an air-stable iridium hydride catalyst for the isomerization of terminal epoxides into aldehydes with perfect regioselectivity. The system operates at low loadings of catalyst (0.5 mol%), is highly practical, scalable, and tolerates functional groups that would not be compatible with Lewis acids typically used in stoichiometric amounts. Evidence for a rare hydride mechanism are provided.