Molecular Catalysis for Utilizing CO2 in Fuel Electro-Generation and in Chemical Feedstock

Processes for the conversion of CO 2 to valuable chemicals are highly desired as a result of the increasing CO 2 levels in the atmosphere and the subsequent elevating global temperature. However, CO 2 is thermodynamically and kinetically inert to transformation and, therefore, many efforts were made in the last few decades. Reformation/hydrogenation of CO 2 is widely used as a means to access valuable products such as acetic acids, CH 4, CH 3OH, and CO. The electrochemical reduction of CO 2 using hetero- and homogeneous catalysts recently attracted much attention. In particular, molecular CO 2 reduction catalysts were widely studied using transition-metal complexes modified with various ligands to understand the relationship between various catalytic properties and the coordination spheres above the metal centers. Concurrently, the coupling of CO 2 with various electrophiles under homogeneous conditions is also considered an important approach for recycling CO 2 as a renewable C-1 substrate in the chemical industry. This review summarizes some recent advances in the conversion of CO 2 into valuable chemicals with particular focus on the metal-catalyzed reductive conversion and functionalization of CO 2. View Full-Tex