Conversion of CO2 from Air into Methanol Using a Polyamine and a Homogeneous Ruthenium Catalyst

Jotheeswari Kothandaraman, Alain Goeppert, Miklos Czaun, George A. Olah, and G. K. Surya Prakash

Cite this: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 3, 778–781Publication Date:December 29, 2015

https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5b12354

Copyright © 2015 American Chemical

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Abstract

“A highly efficient homogeneous catalyst system for the production of CH₃OH from CO₂ using pentaethylenehexamine and Ru-Macho-BH (1) at 125–165 °C in an ethereal solvent has been developed (initial turnover frequency = 70 h^–1 at 145 °C). Ease of separation of CH₃OH is demonstrated by simple distillation from the reaction mixture.

“The robustness of the catalytic system was shown by recycling the catalyst over five runs without significant loss of activity (turnover number > 2000). Various sources of CO₂ can be used for this reaction including air, despite its “low” CO₂ concentration (400 ppm). For the first time, we have demonstrated that CO₂captured from air can be directly converted to CH₃OH in 79% yield using a homogeneous catalytic system…”

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