Theoretical Investigation of a Parallel Catalytic Cycle in CO2 Hydrogenation by (PNP)IrH3

The (PNP)IrH3 (2,6-bis(diisopropylphosp-hinomethyl)pyridine iridium trihydride) complex by Nozaki is a highly active and selective catalyst for CO2 hydrogenation to formic acid in aqueous KOH. Previous theoretical investigations found that regeneration of the catalyst is the rate-determining step in this reaction. In the current article we present results from a computational study using density func- theory in order to consider the possibility of sequential insertion of two CO2 molecules in two Ir-H bonds before the reaction with hydrogen. We found that insertion of a second CO2 molecule is indeed possible; moreover, this sequential insertion allows formation of a more electrophilic iridium mono-hydride intermediate, and thereby the process of H-2 cleavage is facilitated. In addition, we considered the influence of ligands coplanar with the PNP ligand on the energy of CO2 insertion into the (PNP)IrH2X complex and found that sigma- and pi-donating ligands promote the reaction.