1. New Catalysis with Nickel Pincer Complexes
Hairong Guan, Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Converting carbon dioxide to liquid fuels is an attractive means of storing energy. In addition, it could help reverse the negative impact of human activities on the earth’s atmosphere. Of particular interest to us is the development of highly efficient methods for the reduction of CO2. We have discovered that nickel hydride with a diphosphinite-based ligand (molecular structure shown on the right) catalyzes highly efficient reduction of CO2 with catecholborane, and the hydrolysis of the resulting methoxyboryl species produces methanol in good yield (61%).
Mechanistic studies have revealed key intermediates including a nickel formate, formaldehyde, and a nickel methoxide as different reduced stages for CO2. The catalytic reaction may also be catalyzed by an air-stable nickel formate.