Iron-catalysed cross-coupling of halohydrins with aryl aluminium reagents: a protecting-group-free strategy attaining remarkable rate enhancement and diastereoinduction.

Non-protected halohydrins are cross-coupled with aryl aluminium reagents to produce aryl alkanols in the presence of the iron-bisphosphine catalysts. Remarkable reaction rate enhancement and diastereoinduction are realized by the in situ generated aluminium alkoxides, offering a new method for the reactivity and selectivity control of the iron-catalysed cross-coupling reaction.