Mechanisms of conversion of CO₂ and CO to multicarbon products with molybdenum complexes

Abstract

Toward utilizing CO₂ as a carbon source for the generation of liq. fuels and other value-added chems. using renewable energy, the development of chem. transformations for the prepn. of multicarbon products is desirable. CO reductive coupling chem. has been demonstrated with Mo supported by multidentate terphenyl diphosphine ligands. Low temp. synthetic, kinetics, and isotopic labeling studies have been performed to gain mechanistic insight into CO activation and coupling. An intermediate metal carbide intermediate is instrumental for coupling chem. In addn. to outer sphere electron transfer, sequential proton and hydride transfers have been demonstrated to promote C-C coupling chem. to generate ketene. The formation of C₃ species has been demonstrated. Mechanistic implications will be discussed.