Metal-ligand cooperation in the catalytic dehydrogenative coupling (DHC) of polyalcohols to carboxylic acid derivatives.

Several polyols, which are easily available from sugars through biochemical conversion or hydrogenolytic cleavage, are directly converted into carboxylic acids and amides. This efficient dehydrogenative coupling process, catalyzed by a rhodium(I) diolefin amido complex, is an attractive approach for the production of organic fine chemicals from renewable resources. This method tolerates the presence of several hydroxy groups and can be extended to the direct synthesis of lactams from the corresponding amino alcohols under mild conditions.