Direct Synthesis of 1,4‐Diols from Alkenes by Iron‐Catalyzed Aerobic Hydration and CH Hydroxylation

Abstract Various 1,4‐diols are easily accessible from alkenes through iron‐catalyzed aerobic hydration. The reaction system consists of a user‐friendly iron phthalocyanine complex, sodium borohydride, and molecular oxygen. Furthermore, the effect of additional ligands on the iron complex was examined for a model reaction. The second hydroxy group is installed by direct C(sp 3 )H oxygenation, which is based on a [1,5] hydrogen shift process of a transient alkoxy radical that is formed by formal hydration of the olefin.