Transformations of Carbon Dioxide under Homogeneous Catalysis Conditions (A Review)

In view of the growing environmental concerns and the need to involve alternative sources of raw materials in the chemical industry, intensive research efforts in the last decades have focused on carbon dioxide reactions. In this context, the present review discusses prior studies that were aimed at producing commercially important compounds, such as acids, alcohols, organic carbonates, and polycarbonates, in homogeneous catalytic systems that contain transition-metal complexes. Such systems have been traditionally valued for their high activity and selectivity under relatively mild conditions. The review provides systematized information both on CO2 reactions with hydrogen to produce C1 chemicals such as formic acid and methanol, and on CO2 interactions with organics (e.g., olefins, alcohols, and epoxides) to produce valuable chemical compounds.