Reductive Transformation of CO₂ to Organic Compounds

Abstract

Abstract Carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas and a safe, abundant, easily accessible, and renewable C1 resource that can be chemically converted into high value‐added chemicals, fuels and materials. The preparation of urea, organic carbonates, salicylic acid, etc. from CO 2 through non‐reduction conversion has been used in industrial production, while CO 2 reduction transformation has become a research hotspot in recent years due to its involvement in energy storage and product diversification. Designing suitable catalysts to achieve efficient and selective conversion of CO 2 is crucial due to its thermodynamic stability and kinetic inertness. From this perspective, the redistribution of charges within CO 2 molecules through the interaction of Lewis acid/base or metal complexes with CO 2 , or the forced transfer of electrons to CO 2 through photo‐ or electrocatalysis, is a commonly used effective way to activate CO 2 . Based on understanding of the activation/reaction mechanism on a molecular level, we have developed metal complexes, metal salts, inorganic/organic salts, ionic liquids, as well as nitrogen rich and porous materials as efficient catalysts for CO 2 reductive conversions. The goal of this personal account is to summarize the catalytic processes of CO 2 reductive conversion that have been developed in the past 7 years: 1) For the reductive functionalization of CO 2 , the major challenge lies in accurately adjusting reaction parameters (such as pressure) to achieve high catalytic efficiency and the product selectivity; 2) For photocatalytic or electrocatalytic reduction of CO 2 , how to suppress competitive hydrogen evolution reactions and improve catalyst stability are key points that requires continuous attention.

Topics & Concepts