Low‐Temperature Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide to Methanol with a Homogeneous Cobalt Catalyst

Herein we describe the first homogeneous non‐noble metal catalyst for the hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol. The catalyst is formed in situ from [Co(acac)3], Triphos, and HNTf2 and enables the reaction to be performed at 100 °C without a decrease in activity. Kinetic studies suggest an inner‐sphere mechanism, and in situ NMR and MS experiments reveal the formation of the active catalyst through slow removal of the acetylacetonate ligands. A humble catalyst with modest needs: A non‐noble metal catalyst was developed for the efficient hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol. The catalyst formed in situ from [Co(acac)3], 1,1,1‐tris(diphenylphosphinomethyl)ethane (Triphos), and HNTf2 was able to produce methanol from CO2 at just 100 °C (see scheme).