How does osmium tetroxide react with alkenes?

Osmium tetroxide (OsO4) is an important reagent for the formation of diols (vicinal diols) from alkenes. The diols that are formed always have “syn” stereochemistry. Here's a summary of the reactions, and the mechanisms for their formation. read more

Osmium tetroxide (also osmium(VIII) oxide) is the chemical compound with the formula OsO 4. The compound is noteworthy for its many uses, despite its toxicity and the rarity of osmium. It also has a number of interesting properties, one being that the solid is volatile. read more

Osmium tetroxide is an oxide of osmium. It has many uses, despite the fact that the abundance of Os in the earth's crust is only 1.5 ppb by mass. OsO₄ is colourless and has a chlorine-like odour. read more