Oxidation of hydrocarbons and alcohols with peroxides catalyzed by new π-cymene osmium complexes

New osmium(II) complexes containing π-coordinated p-cymene (cym) ligands, [(η6-p-cym)Os(bipy)(MeCN)](PF6)2 (1) and (η6-p-cym)Os(py)Cl2 (2) where bipy is 2,2′-bipyridine, efficiently catalyze oxygenation of alkanes (cyclohexane, n-octane, methylcyclohexane, cis- and trans-isomers of 1,2-dimethylcyclohexane), benzene and 1-phenylethanol with hydrogen peroxide in acetonitrile solution in air at 60 °C.