Reactions of carbon dioxide with transition metal compounds

Abstract

Activation via coordination is one of the most powerful and universal ways of inducing inert molecules to react. This lecture deals with the problem of carbon dioxide activation by means of transition metal compounds. The complexes formed from C02 in reactions with low-valent rhodium, platinum and ruthenium compounds were investigated. The C02 insertions into transition metal-hydrogen and -carbon bonds are discussed: they may lead not only to the ‘normal’ insertion products but also to metallo-acids and their estersthe products of ‘reverse’ pathways. The reduction of C02 and decomposition of formic acid open the way to some homogeneous catalytic processes. © 1973, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.