Direct Access to POP-Type Osmium(II) and Osmium(IV) Complexes: Osmium a Promising Alternative to Ruthenium for the Synthesis of Imines from Alcohols and Amines

An easy and direct access to POP-type osmium(II) and osmium(IV) complexes, including OsH4{dbf(PiPr2)2} (dbf(PiPr2)2 = 4,6-bis(diisopropylphosphine)dibenzofuran), is reported. This tetrahydride derivative is an efficient catalyst for the selective formation of imines from alcohols and amines with liberation of H2, proving that osmium is a promising alternative to ruthenium for catalysis.