Iron-Catalyzed Reduction of CO₂ into Methylene: Formation of C–N, C–O, and C–C Bonds

Abstract

We report herein the use of the (dihydrido)iron catalyst, Fe(H)2(dmpe)2, for the selective reduction of CO2 into either bis(boryl)acetal or methoxyborane depending on the hydroborane used as a reductant. In a one-pot two-step procedure, the in situ generated bis(boryl)acetal was shown to be a reactive and versatile source of methylene to create new C-N but also C-O and C-C bonds.