Germanium(ii) hydride mediated reduction of carbon dioxide to formic acid and methanol with ammonia borane as the hydrogen source

Abstract

LGeOC(O)H (3) (L = CH{(CMe)(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)N)}(2)), from the straightforward conversion of LGeH (2) with CO(2), reacts with LiH(2)NBH(3) giving 2 and LiOC(O)H (4), while the corresponding reaction of 3 with H(3)NBH(3) after aqueous workup releases 2 and CH(3)OH (5). This opens the possibility to use hydride 2 as a mediator in the reduction of carbon dioxide to formic acid and methanol.