A series of molybdenum pincer complexes has been shown for the first time to be active in the catalytic hydrogenation of amides.

The source of hydrogen atoms will determine the reaction hazard, cost, and reaction conditions. Hydrogen sources can be classified into two main groups: hydride or molecular hydrogen sources. [3][4][5][6]

Theory and experiments were used to rationally design co-catalysts for the deaminative hydrogenation of amides. TBD was found to be the optimal catalyst, assisting the C–N bond cleavage while preventing the formation of adducts with the catalyst.

The condensation reaction of salicylaldehyde or 2‐hydroxynaphthaldehyde with a diamino organic group (Acridine Yellow or diaminoacridine) resulted in the Schiff‐base ligands ACRI‐1, ACRI‐2 and ACRI‐3, with the last two hitherto unknown. Fluorescent ACRI‐1, ACRI‐2 and ACRI‐3 were designed to provide iminophenolic binding pockets for two transition metals and ferromagnetic exchange between the metals. Following our report on the complex [Co2(ACRI‐1)2] (1Co), we report herein the reactions of ACRI‐1, ACRI‐2 and ACRI‐3 with CoII and CuII salts, which afforded the new fluorescent complexes [Cu2(ACRI‐1)2] (1Cu), [Co2(ACRI‐2)2] (2Co), [Cu2(ACRI‐2)2] (2Cu), [Co2(ACRI‐3)2(H2O)4] (3Co) and [Cu2(ACRI‐3)2] (3Cu).