The present invention relates to catalytic materials for hydrogenation or asymmetric hydrogenation. In particular, the invention relates to iron (II) complexes containing unsymmetrical tetradentate diphosphine (PNNP) ligands with two different nitrogen donor groups useful for catalytic transfer hydrogenation or asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones, aldehydes and imines.

A palladium(II) complex which catalyzes the Sonogashira coupling reaction efficiently under aerobic condition and a method of employing the palladium(II) complex to synthesize internal alkynes. The palladium(II) complex is an effective catalyst for the coupling reactions of aryl iodo and diiodo compounds with unactivated alkyl alkynes and terminal dialkynes to produce various novel symmetrical dialkynes and disubstituted internal alkynes in excellent yields.

A palladium(II) complex which catalyzes the Sonogashira coupling reaction efficiently under aerobic condition and a method of employing the palladium(II) complex to synthesize internal alkynes. The palladium(II) complex is an effective catalyst for the coupling reactions of aryl iodo and diiodo compounds with unactivated alkyl alkynes and terminal dialkynes to produce various novel symmetrical dialkynes and disubstituted internal alkynes in excellent yields.