Well Defined Phosphine Free Ni-Catalyzed Dehydrogenation of Secondary Alcohols for the Synthesis of Ketones and Ketazines.

In this work, we unveil a novel synthesis of bench stable Ni (II) complexes supported by tetradentate Schiff-base ligands and the complexes were devoid of any phosphine or phosphine-based ligand. These Ni-complexes were successfully applied for the dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols for ketone and ketazine syntheses. Secondary alcohols with different functional groups were well tolerated during catalytic cycle. Moreover, we successfully extended this protocol for the synthesis of biologically significant ketones and ketazines. On the basis of various control experiments, probable reaction pathway was proposed, and an acceptorless alcohol dehydrogenation mechanism was suggested.