An iridium-catalyzed linear-selective sp3 C─H alkylation of N-methylamides with alkenes was developed using bulky, electron-deficient diphosphite ligands. The reaction accommodates N-methylacetamide derivatives bearing diverse substituents and a range of terminal alkenes. Mechanistic studies were conducted to gain insights into the reaction pathway. Internal alkenes can also be used via in situ consecutive alkene isomerization. Selective sp3 C─H functionalization was achieved even in the presence of competing sp2 C─H bonds.
Takahashi et al. (Mon,) studied this question.