Hydrogenation of CO2-Derived Carbonates and Polycarbonates to Methanol and Diols by Metal-Ligand Cooperative Manganese Catalysis

Abstract

The first base-metal-catalysed hydrogenation ofCO2-derived carbonates to alcohols is presented. The reactionproceedsundermildconditionsinthepresenceofawell-defined manganese complex with aloading as lowas0.25 mol%. The non-precious-metal homogenous catalyticsystem provides an indirect route for the conversion of CO2into methanol with the co-production of value-added (vicinal)diols in yields of up to 99%. Experimental and computationalstudies indicate ametal–ligand cooperative catalysis mechanism.