Rhodium-catalyzed hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to formic acid
- Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (United States)
The complex [Rh(NBD)(PMe{sub 2}Ph){sub 3}]BF{sub 4} (2; NBD = norbornadiene) has been found to serve as a precatalyst for the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to formic acid at moderate temperatures in THF solution, with turnover numbers of 10-60/day. Water accelerates formic acid production, whereas PMe{sub 2}Ph is an inhibitor. Kinetic studies show that the rate of formic acid appearance in first order each in [2], pH{sub 2}, and p{sub CO2} in the range 50-300 psi (following prehydrogenation). In situ high-pressure IR and NMR experiments reveal that the addition of H{sub 2} to [Rh(NBD)(PMe{sub 2}Ph){sub 3}]BF{sub 4} (2) produces rhodium dihydride complexes [H{sub 2}Rh(PMe{sub 2}Ph){sub 3}(S)]BF{sub 4}(4, 5; S = H{sub 2}O, THF) and [H{sub 2}Rh(PMe{sub 2}Ph){sub 4}]BF{sub 4} (3). IR and NMR studies of the reaction of 3-5 with CO{sub 2} indicate that 3 is unreactive toward CO{sub 2} but that 4 and 5 insert CO{sub 2} to give species 6 and 7, formulated as formato complexes [HRh(S)(PMe{sub 2}Ph){sub 2}({eta}{sup 2}-OCHO)]BF{sub 4}, respectively; complexes 6 and 7 are also detected under catalytic conditions by IR spectroscopy. Aquo dihydride complex 4 has been found to insert CO{sub 2} more rapidly than the THF complex 5. [H{sub 2}Rh(PMe{sub 2}Ph){sub 3}(S)]BF{sub 4} (4, 5) also catalyze the decomposition of formic acid to CO{sub 2} and H{sub 2}. Combined kinetic and spectroscopic results suggest that reductive elimination of formic acid from the intermediate formato complexes is the rate-limiting step in the catalytic cycle. 30 refs., 11 figs., 1 tab.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 284988
- Journal Information:
- Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 114, Issue 13; Other Information: PBD: 17 Jun 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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