Rethinking the Claisen–Tishchenko Reaction

Pincer-type complexes [OsH2(CO){PyCH2NHCH2CH2NHPtBu2}] and [OsH2(CO){HN(CH2CH2PiPr2)2}] catalyze the disproportionation reaction of aldehydes via an outer-sphere bifunctional mechanism achieving turnover frequencies up to 14 000 h−1. The N−H group of the catalysts is a key player in this process, elucidated with the help of DFT calculations.