The chemistry of the non-metallating ligand dibenzo-cyclooctatetraene (dct) was explored in an effort to develop a superior alkane activation system. No alkane activation was observed with several dct-iridium complexes.

Dct was shown to be a very electron-withdrawing diolefin ligand, which is hydrogenation and displacement resistant. A new method, based on Mo(CO)(,4)L(,2), for determining the electronic properties of ligands is described.

Dct was shown to be a "suicide inhibitor" for homogeneous hydrogenation catalysts and a competitive inhibitor for heterogeneous hydrogenation catalysts. This difference provides a test for determining the phase of an unknown hydrogenation catalyst. Using this test, we have shown that McQuillin's catalyst (RhCl(,3)py(,3)/NaBH(,4)/dmf/H(,2)) is heterogeneous, and not homogeneous as was previously believed.

Trityl potassium was shown to be a superlative base for the dehydrohalogenation of alkyl halides.

An oxidation catalyst is described that can oxidize secondary alcohols to ketones and some aldehydes to the unsaturated aldehydes.