Homogeneous Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}) is of the greatest interest as a C{sub 1} feedstock because of the vast amounts of carbon which exist in this form and because of the low cost of bulk CO{sub 2}. Currently, toxic carbon monoxide, the main competitor for many processes, is used in industry instead because CO{sub 2} is perceived to be less reactive and its efficient catalytic conversion has remained elusive. Because CO{sub 2} is a highly oxidized, thermodynamically stable compound, its utilization requires reaction with certain high energy substances or electroreductive processes. Catalytic hydrogenation is one of the most promising approaches to CO{sub 2} fixation. Recent research has shown that high catalytic efficiency, yields, and rates of reaction can be obtained from CO{sub 2} with optimum conditions and catalysts. This review will describe the simplest and most studied reactions of CO{sub 2}: the catalytic reactions with H{sub 2} in the presence or absence of other reactive species. The mechanisms of homogeneously catalyzed reactions will be emphasized. Subjects which will not be covered, aside from brief mentions, include stoichiometric reactions of CO{sub 2} with complexes, the reverse water gas shift reaction, hydrosilylation, and electrochemical or photochemical reductions of CO{sub 2}. 132 refs.