Tishchenko reaction of aldehydes in the presence of an amino alcohol-based Ir bifunctional catalyst was developed. The reaction proceeds with 1 mol% of the catalyst and 20-30 mol% of K₂CO₃ in acetonitrile at room temperature to give the corresponding dimeric esters in good yield.

The first enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-stachyflin, a potential anti-influenza A virus agent, was achieved; the method features a BF₃·Et₂O-induced domino epoxide-opening/rearrangement/cyclization reaction to stereoselectively form the requisite pentacyclic ring system in one step.