Transfer-dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols catalyzed by manganese NNN-pincer complexes

Abstract

Novel catalytic systems based on pentacarbonylmanganese bromide and stable NNN-pincer ligands are presented for the transfer-dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols to give the corresponding ketones in good to excellent isolated yields. Best results are obtained using di-picolylamine derivatives as ligands and acetone as an inexpensive hydrogen acceptor. Besides high activity for benzylic substrates, aliphatic alcohols, as well as steroid derivatives, are readily oxidized in the presence of the optimal phosphorus-free catalyst.