The alkene transfer hydrogenation (TH) of avariety of alkenes has been achieved with simple AeN'' 2 catalysts [Ae = Ca, Sr,B a; N'' = N(SiMe 3 ) 2 ]u sing 1,4-cyclohexadiene (1,4-CHD) as aHsource.R eaction of 1,4-CHD with AeN'' 2 gave benzene,N''H, and the metal hydride species N''AeH (or aggregates thereof), whichi sacatalyst for alkene hydrogenation. BaN'' 2 is by far the most active catalyst. Hydrogenation of activated C=Cb onds (e.g. styrene) proceeded at room temperature without polymer formation. Unactivated (isolated) C=Cbonds (e.g. 1-hexene) needed ahigher temperature (120 8 8C) but proceeded without double-bond isomerization. The ligands fully control the course of the catalytic reaction, which can be:1 )alkene TH, 2) 1,4-CHD dehydrogenation, or 3) alkene polymerization. DFT calculations support formation of ametal hydride species by deprotonation of 1,4-CHD followed by Ht ransfer.C onvenient access to larger quantities of BaN'' 2 ,its high activity and selectivity,and the many advantages of TH make this as imple but attractive procedure for alkene hydrogenation. Scheme 1. Various concepts for transfer hydrogenation.