Katalytische Fixierung von Kohlenstoffdioxid mittels früher Übergangsmetallkomplexe

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Andreas Berkefeld
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2009 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 141825232

Carbon dioxide is a naturally abundant, yet little used source of carbon. Over the long term, the utilization of CO2 will be of interest as a sustainable, and nontoxic C1 feedstock for the production of valuable chemical products or fuels, such as carboxylic acids and derivatives thereof, or methane. Substantial progress in the field of transition metal catalysis has provided a basis to endeavor the challenge of energy-efficient catalytic CO2 fixation schemes. This research project is directed at studying the activation and functionalization of CO2 with a series of cationic group 3 and 4 base-free metal-alkyl complexes in the presence of Lewis-acid borane cocatalysts. Key steps involve CO2 activation through coordination to a highly oxophilic metal center and insertion into a metal-carbon or -hydride fragment to produce a metal-carboxylate. Over the short term, the anticipated functionalization schemes of metal-carboxylate species will utilize Lewis acid activated group 13 and 14 based reducing agents, e.g. silane/ borane combinations. The regeneration of an active catalyst is of particular interest in this context. These efforts are anticipated to provide basis to survey the utilization of industrially applicable coreactants, such as H2, for CO2 reduction and functionalization.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Canada
• Host: Professor Warren E. Piers, Ph.D.