C02 and Biomass Conversion Using Organometallic Molecular Catalysts

International audienceWhile greenhouse gases emissions are reaching alarming levels, fossi! fuels still represent 80% of the world energy portfolio and 95% of our chemical commodities rely on non-renewable resources, namely hydrocarbons. In this context, utilizing C02 as a Cl building block to pro duce platform chemicals as an alternative to petrochemistry has a double advantage of reusing C02 while sparing fossil resources and avoiding C02 emissions from their use. We have developed a strategy relying on the simultaneous use of a functionalizing reagent and a reductant that can be independently adjusted to perform the reductive functionalization of C02. The so-called diagonal approach will be discussed and exemplified with novel catalytic processes to convert C02 to formamides, N-heterocycles, methylamines and methanol, using hydroboranes, hydrosilanes or formic acid as reductants. These new catalytic reactions rely on the use of simple organocatalysts or Zn, Fe and Ru organometallic complexes. The mechanisms at play in these transformations will be presented, based on DFT calculations and isolation ofreactive catalytic intermediates