Methanol as Hydrogen Source: Transfer Hydrogenation of Aldehydes near Room Temperature

A cyclometalated rhodium complex has been found to show excellent activity in dehydrogenation of methanol at room temperature. This feature allows for the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of various aldehydes with methanol as both hydrogen source and solvent under very mild conditions. A hydroxy functionality on the ligand is shown to be critical for this unusual activity. Transferring hydrogen out of methanol near room temperature: a rhodium complex has been found to catalyze transfer hydrogenation of a variety of aldehydes at 25–30 °C, made possible by the para‐OH functionality on the ligand.