Pyridine-decorated carbon nanotubes as a metal-free heterogeneous catalyst for mild CO2 reduction to methanol with hydroboranes

Abstract

Pyridine decorated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (N^Py-MW) have been successfully employed as a catalyst for the reduction of carbon dioxide to methyl borinate (R₂BO–CH₃) in the presence of 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane. N^Py-MW represents the first example of a heterogeneous, metal-free and durable catalyst for CO₂ hydroboration to methanol. A mechanistic cycle has been proposed on the basis of targeted blank experiments and a quantum chemical study, highlighting the non-innocent role played by the nanotube carrier in the final N^Py-MW catalytic performance.