Aerobic oxidative dehydrogenation of benzyl alcohols to benzaldehydes by using a cyclometalated ruthenium catalyst

The ruthenium(III) complex bearing phenylpyridine as a cyclometalated ligand serves as an efficient catalyst for the aerobic oxidative dehydrogenation of benzyl alcohols to the corresponding benzaldehydes under mild conditions and for the one-pot synthesis of benzonitriles from benzyl alcohols with ammonia.