Formic acid: A promising bio-renewable feedstock for fine chemicals

Abstract

In light of the growing scarcity of petroleum-based raw materials, carbon dioxide (CO2) is becoming increasing attractive as organic carbon source. In this perspective, formic acid (HCOOH) might be an interesting bio-renewable solution to store, transport, and activate carbon dioxide for the synthesis of value-added chemicals. Herein, HCOOH has been successfully used as C1 building block for the synthesis of a library of alcohols via a catalysed oxo-synthesis, under green experimental conditions. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.