Homogeneous Catalysis Strategies for the Synthesis of CO2-derived Compounds

This chapter focuses on the application of homogeneous catalysts for the transformation of CO2 into value-added compounds. Rather than a comprehensive review, it focuses on some of the major developments and key strategies that have been employed across the field, including some early advances, how they have been built upon, and some of the most important contributions to date. The chapter focuses on the industrially relevant products which can be synthesized from CO2. It is organized into sections based on the oxidation levels of the carbon center (from +IV to −IV) of the product originating from CO2. It covers key products such as cyclic organic carbonates and polycarbonates (+IV), formic acid and formate salts (+II), formaldehyde and dialkoxymethanes (0), methanol (−II) and methane (−IV). Most developments so far have involved three main product types, namely, cyclic organic carbonates, formate salts and methanol, and so these areas of research are the main focus herein. The chapter explores how the ligand and metal centers within the catalysts cooperate in order to provide the targeted CO2-derived products.