Dehydrogenation of glycerol to dihydroxyacetone is catalyzed by Ir(diene)(N-N)X (diene = 1,5-hexadiene, 1,5-cyclooctadiene; N-N = 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2′-bipyridine and substituted derivatives; X = Cl, I). The reactions are performed under hydrogen transfer conditions, using acetophenone as the hydrogen acceptor.
