Method for converting hydroxyl group of alcohol

An iridium complex selected from the group consisting of:

• a compound represented by the following general formula (4-1a) or a dimer thereof:
• wherein:
• Y1 is an optionally substituted cyclopentadienyl group or an optionally substituted indenyl group,
• Z1 is a hydrido or anionic group,
• A2 is an optionally substituted aryl group or an optionally substituted carbonyl group, where A2 may partially coordinate to the iridium atom,
• X4, X5, X6, X7 and X8 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a substituent,
• where X4 and X5, X5 and X6, X6 and X7 as well as X7 and X8 may each be joined together to form a ring, and/or Y1 and A1 as well as Y1 and X4 may each be joined together to form a ring, and
• m is 1 or 2, and n is 1 or 0, provided that n is 1 when m is 1, and n is 0 when m is 2;
• and
• a compound represented by the following general formula (4-2):
• wherein:
• Y1, Z1, X4, X5, X6, X7 and X8 are as defined above,
• except for the case where Y1 is pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, Z1 is a chlorine atom, X4, X5, X7 and X8 are each a hydrogen atom, and X6 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and wherein in formula (4-2) at least one of X4, X5, X7 and X8 is a substituent selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogeno group and an optionally protected amino group.

A ruthenium complex selected from the group consisting of:

• a compound represented by the following general formula (4-3) or a dimer thereof:
• wherein:
• Y2 is an optionally substituted arene,
• Z1 is a hydrido or anionic group,
• A1 is an optionally substituted aryl group, an optionally substituted heterocyclyl group or an optionally substituted carbonyl group, where A1 may partially coordinate to the ruthenium atom,
• X4, X5, X6, X7 and X8 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a substituent,
• where X4 and X5, X5 and X6, X6 and X7 as well as X7 and X8 may each be joined together to form a ring, and/or Y1 and A1 as well as Y1 and X4 may each be joined together to form a ring, and
• m is 1 or 2, and n is 1 or 0, provided that n is 1 when m is 1, and n is 0 when m is 2;
• or
• a compound represented by the following general formula (4-4):
• wherein:
• Y2, Z1, X4, X5, X6, X7 and X8 are as defined above and wherein in formula (4-4) at least one of X4, X5, X7 and X8 is a substituent selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogeno group and an optionally protected amino group.