Direct Access to POP-Type Osmium(II) and Osmium(IV) Complexes: Osmium a Promising Alternative to Ruthenium for the Synthesis of Imines from Alcohols and Amines

An easy and direct access to POP-type osmium(II) and osmium(IV) complexes, including OsH(4){dbf(P(i)Pr(2))(2)} (dbf(P(i)Pr(2))(2) = bis(diisopropylphosphine)dibenzofuran), is reported. This tetrahydride derivative is an efficient catalyst for the selective formation of imines from alcohols and amines with liberation of H(2), proving that osmium is a promising alternative to ruthenium for catalysis.