Well-defined iron catalyst for improved hydrogenation of carbon dioxide and bicarbonate

J Am Chem Soc. 2012 Dec 26;134(51):20701-4. doi: 10.1021/ja307924a. Epub 2012 Dec 11.

Abstract

The most efficient, stable, and easy-to-synthesize non-noble metal catalyst system for the reduction of CO(2) and bicarbonates is presented. In the presence of the iron(II)-fluoro-tris(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl)phosphino]tetrafluoroborate complex 3, the hydrogenation of bicarbonates proceeds in good yields with high catalyst productivity and activity (TON > 7500, TOF > 750). High-pressure NMR studies of the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide demonstrate that the corresponding iron-hydridodihydrogen complex 4 is crucial in the catalytic cycle.