Conversion of CO2 from air into formate using amines and phosphorus-nitrogen PN3P-Ru(ii) pincer complexes

Abstract

Well-defined ruthenium(II) PN³P pincer complexes were developed for the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide. Excellent product selectivity and catalytic activity with TOF (turnover frequency) and TON (turnover number) up to 13 000 h⁻¹ and 33 000, respectively, in a THF/H₂O biphasic system were achieved. Notably, effective conversion of carbon dioxide from air into formate was conducted in the presence of an amine, allowing easy product separation and catalyst recycling.