An Efficient Ruthenium Catalyst Bearing Tetradentate Ligand for Hydrogenations of Carbon Dioxide

A ruthenium complex with a tetradentate bipyridine ligand was proved to be a highly efficient catalyst for the conversions of CO2. Turnover numbers up to 300 000, 9800, and 2100 were achieved for the hydrogenations of CO2 to formamides, formamides to methanol and amines, and the direct hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol, respectively. A ruthenium catalyst with tetradentate bipyridine ligand gave TONs up to 300 000, 9800, and 2100 for the hydrogenations of CO2 to formamides, formamides to methanol and amines, and the direct hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol, respectively.