The replacement of precious metal catalysts with cheap and abundant metals is a major goal of sustainable chemistry. In industry, both hydrogenation and dehydrogenation catalysts have widespread applications, including the production of biorenewable chemicals and fuels, commodity chemicals, and the synthesis of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Although the past decade has witnessed significant advances in precious metal (Rh, Ir, Ru, Pd, or Pt) catalyzed hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions, the design and use of earth abundant catalysts has largely lagged behind. We have developed a novel cobalt(II)-based catalytic system which is highly efficient for both the homogeneous hydrogenation of alkenes, aldehydes, ketones, and imines, and the dehydrogenation of alcohols. The synthesis, reactivity, and mechanistic aspects will be discussed in detail.

Highly efficient, homogeneous cobalt(II) catalysts for hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions

245th National Meeting (2013)

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