Copper-catalyzed oxidative dehydrogenative functionalization of alkanes to allylic esters

Herein, we report a general, efficient and solvent-free method for the one-pot synthesis of allylic esters via dehydrogenation of unactivated alkanes and subsequent oxidative cross coupling with different substituted carboxylic acids. A simple, well defined and air stable Cu(II)-complex, [Cu(MeTAA)], featuring a tetraazamacrocyclic ligand (tetramethyltetraaza[14]annulene (MeTAA)) is used as the catalyst. A wide variety substituted allylic esters were synthesized in high yields starting from readily available starting materials. Control reactions were carried out to understand the reaction sequence and the plausible mechanism.