Oxo osmium(VIII) complexes in oxidation: crystal structures of OsO4 nmo (nmo 5 N-methylmorpholine N-oxide) and OsO4 nmm(nmm 5 N-methylmorpholine), and use of cis-[OsO4(OH)2] as an oxidation catalyst†

The new complexes OsO4?nmo (nmo = N-methylmorpholine N-oxide) and OsO4?nmm (nmm = Nmethylmorpholine)
have been made, their crystal structures determined, and their possible involvement in the
catalysed dihydroxylation of alkenes considered. The use of cis-[OsO4(OH)2]22 as a catalyst for the oxidation of
alcohols, aldehydes and alkyl halides to carboxylic acids with [Fe(CN)6]32 and other co-oxidants and also for the
cleavage and dihydroxylation of alkenes with [Fe(CN)6]32 has been investigated.