A novel catalytic hydrogen-autotransfer protocol for the atom-efficient α-alkylation of ketones with readily available alcohols is presented. The use of manganese complexes bearing non-innocent PNP pincer ligands enabled the functionalization of a broad range of valuable ketones, including 2-oxindole, estrone 3-methyl ether, and testosterone. Mechanistic investigations suggest the participation of an intramolecular amidate-assisted alcohol-dehydrogenation process.

A novel rhenium complex bearing a non-innocent PNP pincer ligand was prepared. This novel catalyst is active in hydrogen autotransfer reactions to form new C-C and C-N bonds. More specifically, valuable alkylations of ketones and sulfonamides with primary alcohols are herein presented. In addition, the first examples of rhenium-catalysed synthesis of pyrroles are described by dehydrogenative coupling of diols, amines and ketones.

Cyclometalated ruthenium allow the effective and selective N-methylation of anilines under mild conditions.

Scheme 3. Manganese-catalyzed a-alkylationo fa)2-oxindole and b) estrone 3-methyl ether and testosteronew ith alcohols. Yields are for the isolated product.Scheme 4. Plausible mechanism for the manganese-catalyzed a-alkylation of ketones with alcohols.

Ruthenium PNP pincer complexes bearing supplementary cyclometalated C,N‐bound ligands have been prepared and fully characterized for the first time. By replacing CO and H− as ancillary ligands in such complexes, additional electronic and steric modifications of this topical class of catalysts are possible. The advantages of the new catalysts are demonstrated in the general α‐alkylation of ketones with alcohols following a hydrogen autotransfer protocol. Herein, various aliphatic and benzylic alcohols were applied as green alkylating agents for ketones bearing aromatic, heteroaromatic or aliphatic substituents as well as cyclic ones. Mechanistic investigations revealed that during catalysis, Ru carboxylate complexes are predominantly formed whereas neither the PNP nor the CN ligand are released from the catalyst in significant amounts.