| abstract |
The present application discloses complexes useful as catalysts for organic chemical synthesis including hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of unsaturated compounds or dehydrogenation of substrates. Various ranges of hydrogenated substrate compounds include esters, lactones, oils and fats resulting in alcohols, diols, and triols as reaction products. Using the catalyst of the present application, the hydrogenation reaction can be catalyzed under solvent-free conditions. The catalyst of the present invention also allows hydrogenation to proceed without the addition of a base, and can be used in place of conventional reduction methods to utilize hydrides of main group elements. Furthermore, the catalyst of the present application can catalyze the dehydrogenation under homogeneous conditions and / or conditions that do not require an acceptor. As such, the catalysts provided herein can be useful in reducing substantial costs and improving the environmental profile of various chemical manufacturing processes. |