Dehydrogenation is the removal of two hydrogen atoms from an organic molecule. The removal may result in the formation of hydrogen gas, or alternatively, the two hydrogen atoms may be transferred sequentially to an oxidizing agent. In the latter case, the process usually takes several steps, which might involve: (a) the stepwise transfer of a hydride anion (H^-) followed by a hydrogen cation (H⁺); (b) the stepwise transfer of two hydrogen atoms; (c) the stepwise transfer of a hydrogen atom, followed by a hydrogen cation and an electron; and so on. Irrespective of the reaction mechanism the overall net effect is the same, namely the removal of two hydrogen atoms or two protons plus two negatively charged electrons. Dehydrogenation is thus a two electron process, and is one of the two most important processes (the other being oxygenation) whereby organic molecules are oxidized. Most oxidations in organic...