An Organic Hydride Transfer Reaction of a Ruthenium NAD Model Complex Leading to Carbon Dioxide Reduction

Ruthenium will fix it: CO(2) undergoes reduction to HCO(2)(-) when placed over a solution of a ruthenium complex bearing an NADH model ligand 1 (black in right structural formula). The organic hydride transfer is triggered by the addition of benzoate anion, which rapidly forms a complex with 1, a complex that is a stronger reductant than 1. A photocatalytic variant of the reaction using triethanolamine as a sacrificial reagent has also been developed.