Formic acid has received considerable attention with respect to its potential as a chemical storage medium for hydrogen fuel via its catalytic dehydrogenation into CO2 and H2.  In this regard, we have observed that molybdenum complexes such as CpMo(CO)x(PMe3)3-xH (x = 1, 2, 3) are capable of serving as catalysts for this transformation.  Furthermore, these complexes are also capable of effecting the disproportionation of formic acid into CO2 and methanol, the latter of which is trapped by formic acid to give methyl formate.  There is also much interest in converting CO2 into useful chemicals and, in this regard, the zinc hydride complex, [tris(2-pyridylthio)methyl]zinc hydride ([Tptm]ZnH) is effective for the catalytic hydrosilylation of CO2.  Specifically, [Tptm]ZnH catalyzes the addition of (EtO)3SiH to CO2 to give (EtO)3SiO2CH, which may subsequently be converted into useful chemicals such as ethyl formate or N,N-dimethylformamide.

Catalysts for the dehydrogenation of formic acid and for the functionalization of CO<sub>2</sub>

248th National Meeting (2014)

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Catalysts for the dehydrogenation of formic acid and for the functionalization of CO2

Catalysts for the dehydrogenation of formic acid and for the functionalization of CO₂