A Cp*Ir complex bearing a functional bipyridonate ligand [Cp*Ir(2,2'-bpyO)(HO)] was found to be a highly efficient and general catalyst for transfer hydrogenation of aldehydes and chemoselective transfer hydrogenation of unsaturated aldehydes with isopropanol under neutral conditions. It was noteworthy that many readily reducible or labile functional groups such as nitro, cyano, ester, and halide did not undergo any change under the reaction conditions. Furthermore, this catalytic system exhibited high activity for transfer hydrogenation of ketones with isopropanol. Notably, this research exhibited new potential of metal-ligand bifunctional catalysts for transfer hydrogenation.

The N-methylation of amines with methanol in aqueous solution was proposed and accomplished by using a watersoluble metal−ligand bifunctional dinuclear iridium catalyst. In the presence of [(Cp*IrCl) 2 (thbpym)][Cl] 2 (1 mol %), a range of desirable products were obtained in high yields under environmentally benign conditions. Notably, this research exhibited the potential of transition metal-catalyzed activation of methanol as a C1 source for the construction of the C−N bond in aqueous solution.

A strategy for the synthesis of quinazolinones via Ru-catalyzed redox isomerization/acceptorless dehydrogenation was proposed and accomplished. In the presence of a commercially available [(pcymene)Cl 2 ] 2 , a range of desirable products were obtained with o-aminobenzamides and allylic alcohols as starting materials in moderate to high yields. This strategy is attractive due to high atom efficiency, and minimal consumption of chemicals and energy.

A water-soluble dinuclear Cp*Ir complex bearing 4,4′,6,6′-tetrahydroxy-2,2′-bipyrimidine as a bridging ligand was found to be a highly effective catalyst for the α-alkylation of ketones with alcohols in water.

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