Transfer Hydrogenation of Organic Formates and Cyclic Carbonates: An Alternative Route to Methanol from Carbon Dioxide

Transfer hydrogenation of organic formates and cyclic carbonates was achieved for the first time using a readily available ruthenium catalyst. Nontoxic and economical 2-propanol was used, both as a solvent and hydrogen source, without the need of using flammable H2 gas under high pressure. This method provides an indirect strategy to produce methanol from carbon dioxide under mild conditions as well as an operationally simple and environmentally benign way to reduce formates and carbonates.