An osmium(III)/osmium(V) redox couple generating Os(V)(O)(OH) center for cis-1,2-dihydroxylation of alkenes with H2O2: Os complex with a nitrogen-based tetradentate ligand.

For the synthesis of the 1,2-diols, cis-1,2-dihydroxylation of alkenes catalyzed by osmium(VIII) tetroxide (OsO(4)) is a powerful method. However, OsO(4) is quite toxic due to its highly volatile and sublimable nature. Thus, the development of alternative catalysts for cis-1,2-dihydroxylation of alkenes is highly challenging.

Synthesis and properties of oxo-carboxylato- and dioxo-bridged diosmium complexes of tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine.

A series of oxo-bridged diosmium complexes with tpa ligand (tpa = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) are synthesized. The hydrolytic reaction of the mononuclear osmium complex [Os(III)Cl(2)(tpa)]PF(6) in aqueous solution containing a sodium carboxylate yields a μ-oxo-μ-carboxylato-diosmium(III) complex, [Os(III)(2)(μ-O)(μ-RCOO)(tpa)(2)](PF(6))(3) (R = C(3)H(7) (1), CH(3) (2), or C(6)H(5) (3)). One-electron oxidation of 1 with (NH(4))(2)Ce(IV)(NO(3))(6) gives a mixed-valent [Os(III)Os(IV)(μ-O)(μ-C(3)H(7)COO)(tpa)(2)](PF(6))(4) complex (4).