Selective Catalytic Transfer Dehydrogenation of Alkanes and Heterocycles by an Iridium Pincer Complex

Abstract

Abstract Catalytic alkane dehydrogenation is a reaction with tremendous potential for application. We describe a highly active PSCOP‐pincer iridium catalyst for transfer dehydrogenation of cyclic and linear alkanes. The dehydrogenation of linear alkanes occurs under relatively mild conditions with high regioselectivity for α‐olefin formation. In addition, the catalyst system is very effective in the dehydrogenation of heterocycles to form heteroarenes and olefinic products.