Selective catalytic transfer dehydrogenation of alkanes and heterocycles by an iridium pincer complex.

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.