This talk will describe a robust, reusable iridium catalyst that enables hydrogen gas release from neat formic acid. This catalysis works under mild conditions in the presence of air, is highly selective, and affords millions of turnovers. The catalysis proceeds through a mechanism involving a diiridiumtrihydride active species which we have structurally characterized. The transformations of this Ir2H3 cluster through the dehydrogenation of formic acid will be discussed. Quite interestingly, perturbation of the pyridylphosphine ligand present in the catalyst substantially disables formic acid dehydrogenation reactivity, yet enables other transformations such as glycerol to lactic acid conversion. This mechanistic dichotomy will also be described.

Mechanism of formic acid dehydrogenation by a diiridiumtrihydride catalyst

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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