A highly active alkane dehydrogenation catalyst: stabilization of dihydrido rhodium and iridium complexes by a P–C–P pincer ligand

The novel P–C–P pincer complex, [IrH2{C6H3(CH22PBut2)2}] has long-term stability and 200 ° C and catalyses the transfer dehydrogenation of cyclooctnane to cyclooctene at the rate of 12 turnovers min1 min–1.