Transition-metal-free catalytic reduction of carbon dioxide

Abstract

Metal-free systems, including frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) have been shown to bind CO2. By reducing the Lewis acidity and basicity of the ambiphilic system, it is possible to generate active catalysts for the deoxygenative hydroboration of carbon dioxide to methanol derivatives with conversion rates comparable to those of transition-metal-based catalysts.

Keywords: carbon dioxide; frustrated Lewis pairs; main group elements; organocatalysis; reduction.