Steric parameters in the Ir-catalyzed regio- and diastereoselective isomerization of primary allylic alcohols.

The iridium-catalyzed diastereo- and regioselective isomerization of primary allylic alcohols using Crabtree's catalyst or sterically modified analogs is reported. The importance of the size of the substituents on either the substrates or the catalysts has been rationalized by linear free energy relationships.