Selective hydrogenation of 2,6-diphenylphenoxide to 2,6-dicyclohexylphenoxide ligands takes place at niobium(v) metal centres. ... During our studies of the chemistry of low valent early d-block metal compounds supported by aryloxide ancillary ligation1 we have found that two-electron reduction of Nb(OC6H3Ph2- 2,6)3C12 (OC6H3Ph2-2,6 = 2,6-diphenylphenoxide) in the presence of H2 leads to a cyclohexadiene compound Nb( ...