Developing a clean energy supply is needed to sustain the rising global population and need for energy. Hydrogen is one of the most promising and green fuels. A series of Rh, Ir homogeneous catalysts have been used for the dehydrogenation of alcohols. Modification of the ligand has provided some insight and control on reactivity. However, very limited studies on Re-catalyzed dehydrogenation of alcohols are available. We present herein  a robust and fully recyclable Re catalyst that produces directly dihydrogen  and ketone from alcohol under neat conditions. The reaction can also be extended to make imine directly from alcohol and amine. In addition to the hydrogen itself, these products, ketones and imines (useful pharmaceutical building blocks), are high value-added organics (HVOs).

Rhenium-catalyzed alcohol dehydrogenation

244th National Meeting (2012)

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