Recent developments in first-row transition metal complex-catalyzed CO2 hydrogenation

Abstract

Our modern civilization is currently standing at a crossroads due to excessive emission of anthropogenic CO₂ leading to adverse climate change effects. Hence, a proper CO₂ management strategy, including appropriate CO₂ capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), has become a prime concern globally. On the other hand, C₁ chemicals such as methanol (CH₃OH) and formic acid (HCOOH) have emerged as leading materials for a wide range of applications in various industries, including chemical, biochemical, pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and even energy sectors. Hence, there is a concerted effort to bridge the gap between CO₂ management and methanol/formic acid production by employing CO₂ as a C₁-synthon. CO₂ hydrogenation to methanol and formic acid has emerged as one of the primary routes for directly converting CO₂ to a copious amount of methanol and formate, which is typically catalyzed by transition metal complexes. In this frontier article, we have primarily discussed the abundant first-row transition metal-driven hydrogenation reaction that has exhibited a significant surge in activity over the past few years. We have also highlighted the potential future direction of the research while incorporating a comparative analysis for the competitive second and third-row transition metal-based hydrogenation.