Hydroalkylation of Olefins to form Quaternary Carbons

Metal-hydride hydrogen atom transfer (MHAT) functionalizes unbiased alkenes with predictable branched (Markovnikov) selectivity. The breadth of these transformations has been confined to π-radical traps; no sp³ electrophiles have been reported. Here we describe a Mn/Ni dual catalytic system that allows for the hydroalkylation of unactivated olefins by unactivated alkyl halides, yielding aliphatic quaternary carbons.