ANIONIC GROUP 6B METAL CARBONYLS AS HOMOGENEOUS CATALYSTS FOR CARBON DIOXIDE/HYDROGEN ACTIVATION. THE PRODUCTION OF ALKYL FORMATES.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00325a007

The production of alkyl formates from the hydrocondensation of carbon dioxide in alcohols utilizing anionic group 6B carbonyl hydrides as catalysts is reported. HM(CO)//5** minus (M equals Cr, W; derived from mu -H left bracket M//2(CO)//1//0 right bracket ** minus ) and their products of carbon dioxide insertion, HCO//2M(CO)//5** minus , have been found to be effective catalysts for the hydrogenation of CO//2 in alcohols under rather mild conditions (loading pressures of CO//2 and H//2, 250 psi each, and 125 degree C) to provide alkyl formates. The only metal carbonyl species detected in solution via infrared spectroscopy, both at the end of a catalytic period and during catalysis, were M(CO)//6 and HCO//2M(CO)//5** minus .