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Potassium osmate(VI) dihydrate (K₂OsO₄·2H₂O) is a pale yellow, water-soluble compound containing osmium in the +6 oxidation state. It is significantly less volatile and less toxic than osmium tetroxide (OsO₄), making it safer for laboratory use. Its primary application is in organic synthesis, especially as a catalyst in the Upjohn dihydroxylation reaction—where alkenes are converted into vicinal diols with high stereoselectivity, using a co-oxidant like NMO. This makes it invaluable for producing fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals. It also serves as a precursor to other osmium complexes and, occasionally, as a staining agent in electron microscopy for lipid visualization. Although safer than OsO₄, it still requires careful handling due to osmium’s toxicity and environmental impact. Overall, potassium osmate(VI) dihydrate is a key reagent for selective, controlled oxidations in research and industry.
Potassium osmate(VI) dihydrate is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula K₂[OsO₂(OH)₄]·2H₂O (often simplified as K₂OsO₄·2H₂O). It is a coordination complex containing osmium in the +6 oxidation state, and it appears as a pale yellow or orange crystalline solid. It is water-soluble and less volatile—and significantly less toxic—than its more famous counterpart, osmium tetroxide (OsO₄).
Key Properties:
Contains osmium(VI) in an octahedral osmate anion.
More stable and safer to handle than OsO₄.
Acts as a source of osmium for controlled oxidation reactions.
Main Uses:
Organic Synthesis – Dihydroxylation Catalyst:
Potassium osmate(VI) dihydrate is commonly used (often with a co-oxidant like NMO – N-methylmorpholine N-oxide) in the Upjohn dihydroxylation reaction. This process converts alkenes into vicinal diols (1,2-diols) with high stereoselectivity (syn addition). It’s a milder and safer alternative to using volatile, highly toxic osmium tetroxide directly.
Staining Agent in Microscopy:
Though less common than OsO₄, it can serve as a fixative or stain in electron microscopy to enhance contrast in biological tissues by binding to lipids.
Precursor in Osmium Chemistry:
Used to prepare other osmium compounds in research settings.
⚠️ Note: Despite being safer than OsO₄, potassium osmate(VI) dihydrate still contains osmium—a heavy metal—and should be handled with care due to potential toxicity and environmental hazards.
In summary, it is primarily a specialty reagent in synthetic organic chemistry, valued for enabling safe and selective alkene dihydroxylation.



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