Rhodium-on-carbon catalyzed hydrogen scavenger- and oxidant-free dehydrogenation of alcohols in aqueous media

The efficient and catalytic dehydrogenation of alcohols is a clean approach for preparing carbonyl compounds accompanied only by the generation of hydrogen gas. We have accomplished the heterogeneous rhodium-on-carbon catalyzed dehydrogenation of secondary, as well as primary, alcohols to the corresponding ketones and carboxylic acids in water under basic conditions.