The electrophilic β-alkylation of secondary alcohols with primary alcohols is accomplished by a hydrogen autotransfer process catalyzed by RuCl2 (DMSO) 4. The reaction can produce either simple alkylated secondary alcohols or α, β-unsaturated ketones with good to excellent results just by choosing the appropriate starting secondary alcohol (methyl or longer chain secondary alcohol, respectively), as well as quinolines (by using 2- ...