Catalytic hydrogen production from paraformaldehyde and water using an organoiridium complex

Abstract

Paraformaldehyde was decomposed using an organoiridium complex (1, [Ir^III(Cp*)(4-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl-κN²)benzoic acid-κC³)(H₂O)]₂SO₄) as a catalyst in water to produce H₂ and CO₂ in a 2 : 1 molar ratio at room temperature. The catalytic cycle is composed of the reduction of 1 by paraformaldehyde under basic conditions to produce formic acid and the hydride complex, which reacts with protons to produce H₂. Formic acid further decomposed to H₂ and CO₂ with 1.