Nature is able to synergistically combine multiple enzymes to conduct well-ordered biosynthetic transformations. Mimicking nature’s multicatalysis in vitro may give rise to new chemical transformations via interplay of numerous molecular catalysts in one pot. The direct and selective conversion of abundant n-alkanes to valuable n-alcohols is a reaction with enormous potential applicability but has remained an unreached goal. Here, we show that a quadruple relay catalysis system involving three discrete transition metal catalysts enables selective synthesis of n-alcohols via n-alkane primary C─H bond hydroxymethylation. This one-pot multicatalysis system is composed of Ir-catalyzed alkane dehydrogenation, Rh-catalyzed olefin isomerization and hydroformylation, and Ru-catalyzed aldehyde hydrogenation. This system is further applied to synthesis of α,ω-diols from simple α-olefins through terminal-selective hydroxymethylation of silyl alkanes.

大自然能够协同结合多种酶来进行有序的生物合成转化。模仿大自然在体外的多重催化作用，可能是由于一锅中众多分子催化剂之间的相互作用而引起了新的化学转化。丰富的直接和选择性转化Ñ烷烃有价值Ñ -醇是具有巨大潜力的适用性的反应，但至今依然未得目标。在这里，我们表明，涉及三个离散过渡金属催化剂的四重中继催化系统能够通过n选择性合成n-醇-烷烃伯C-H键羟甲基化。该一锅多催化系统由Ir催化的烷烃脱氢，Rh催化的烯烃异构化和加氢甲酰化以及Ru催化的醛加氢组成。该体系进一步应用于通过甲硅烷基烷烃的末端选择性羟甲基化由简单的α-烯烃合成α，ω-二醇。