The present invention relates to novel
manganese complexes and their use, inter alia, for
homogeneous catalysis in (1) the preparation of
imine by dehydrogenative
coupling of an
alcohol and amine; (2) C—C
coupling in Michael
addition reaction using nitriles as Michael donors; (3) dehydrogenative
coupling of alcohols to give esters and
hydrogen gas (4) hydrogenation of esters to form alcohols (including hydrogenation of cyclic esters (lactones) or cyclic di-esters (di-lactones), or polyesters); (5) hydrogenation of amides (including cyclic dipeptides, lactams, diamide, polypeptides and polyamides) to alcohols and amines (or
diamine); (6) hydrogenation of organic carbonates (including polycarbonates) to alcohols or hydrogenation of carbamates (including polycarbamates) or
urea derivatives to alcohols and amines; (7)
dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols to ketones; (8) amidation of esters (i.e., synthesis of amides from esters and amines); (9)
acylation of alcohols using esters; (10) coupling of alcohols with water and a base to form carboxylic acids; and (11) preparation of amino acids or their salts by coupling of amino alcohols with water and a hydrogenative coupling of alcohols and amines; (13) preparation of imides from diols.