Ruthenium and osmium complexes containing 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine (Ampy)-based ligands in catalysis

•Ruthenium complexes containing 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine based ligands in catalysis.•Osmium complexes containing 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine based ligands in catalysis.•Ruthenium and osmium complexes for the hydrogenation of aldehydes and ketones by hydrogen transfer and molecular hydrogen.•Ruthenium and osmium complexes for the dehydrogenation of alcohols.•Ruthenium and osmium complexes for the hydrogenation of imines and esters.

This account focuses on the application in catalysis of ruthenium and osmium complexes containing 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine (Ampy)-based ligands. The combination of these aminoalkylpyridine ligands with appropriate phosphines affords ruthenium and osmium systems displaying unprecedented high catalytic activity and productivity in a variety of organic transformations such as hydrogenation by hydrogen transfer and dihydrogen, dehydrogenation, racemization, and alkylation.