Ligand-promoted dehydrogenation of alcohols catalyzed by Cp*Ir complexes. A new catalytic system for oxidant-free oxidation of alcohols.

[reaction: see text] An efficient catalytic system for oxidant-free oxidation of alcohols has been developed. A new Cp*Ir catalyst bearing a 2-hydroxypyridine ligand has been designed on the concept of "ligand-promoted dehydrogenation". Various secondary alcohols can be dehydrogenatively oxidized to ketones under neutral conditions with high turnover numbers by using the new Cp*Ir catalyst.