Methanol, a C1 feedstock, is currently produced commercially on a multimillion ton scale from synthesis gas. As a result, the hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol has garnered increased interest as a renewable alternative to fossil fuel derived processes. We have developed a one-pot, homogeneous tandem system using an amine to capture CO2 and a ruthenium catalyst to hydrogenate the resulting intermediates to methanol. Unlike previously reported CO2 to methanol systems, this process operates under basic reaction conditions. The amine, dimethyl amine, plays a bifunctional role: (1) it reacts with CO2 to form the sequestered carbamate product and (2) it is used to intercept formic acid to produce the corresponding formamide intermediate. With the appropriate reaction conditions, &gt;95% of CO2 was hydrogenated to a mixture of dimethylformamide and methanol.

Homogeneous hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to methanol through cascade catalysis

250th National Meeting (2015)

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