CO2 Fixation and Catalytic Reduction by a Neutral Aluminum Double Bond

CO2 fixation and reduction to value-added products is of utmost importance in the battle against rising CO2 levels in the Earth's atmosphere. An organoaluminum complex containing a formal aluminum double bond (dialumene), and thus an alkene equivalent, was used for the fixation and reduction of CO2. The CO2 fixation complex undergoes further reactivity in either the absence or presence of additional CO2, resulting in the first dialuminum carbonyl and carbonate complexes, respectively. Dialumene (1) can also be used in the catalytic reduction of CO2, providing selective formation of a formic acid equivalent via the dialuminum carbonate complex rather than a conventional aluminum-hydride-based cycle. Not only are the CO2 reduction products of interest for C-1 added value products, but the organoaluminum complexes isolated represent a significant step forward in the isolation of reactive intermediates proposed in many industrially relevant catalytic processes.