CC BY-NC 4.0 UnportedLeischner, ThomasSpannenberg, AnkeJunge, KathrinBeller, Matthias2021-09-062021-09-062020https://oa.tib.eu/renate/handle/123456789/6705https://doi.org/10.34657/5752A series of molybdenum(0), (I) and (II) complexes ligated by different PNP and NNN pincer ligands were synthesized and structurally characterized. Along with previously described Mo−PNP complexes Mo-1 and Mo-2, all prepared compounds were tested in the catalytic hydrogenation of aromatic nitriles to primary amines. Among the applied catalysts, Mo-1 is particularly well suited for the hydrogenation of electron-rich benzonitriles. Additionally, two aliphatic nitriles were transformed into the desired products in 80 and 86 %, respectively. Moreover, catalytic intermediate Mo-1a was isolated and its role in the catalytic cycle was subsequently demonstrated. © 2020 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.enghttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/540hydrogenationmolybdenumnitrilepincer complexesprimary amineArticle