Osmium and Ruthenium Catalysts for Dehydrogenation of Alcohols

A series of pincer-type complexes of Os and Ru have been synthesized and investigated in catalytic alcohol dehydrogenation. The hydrides OsHCl(CO)[HN(C(2)H(4)PiPr(2))(2)] and OsH2-(CO)[HN(C(2)H(4)PiPr(2))(2)] possess good air, moisture, and thermal stability and are outstanding versatile dehydrogenation catalysts for primary alcohols for reactions of transfer hydrogenation, dehydrogenative coupling, and amine alkylation.