Triple benzylic dehydrogenation by osmium in an amide ligand environment

The three benzylic methyl hydrogens of p-isopropyltoluene (cymene) are cleaved by ligating N((SiMe2CH2PBu2)-Bu-t)(2)(-) to [(cymene)OSCl2](2), to give a carbyne complex; its chemical reactivity with H-2, with CO, and with HC equivalent to CH are described.