Electronic effects on the catalytic disproportionation of formic acid to methanol by [Cp*Ir-III(R-bpy)Cl]Cl complexes

A series of [Cp*Ir-III(R-bpy)Cl]Cl (R-bpy = 4,4'-di-R-2,2'-bipyridine; R = CF3, H, Me, tBu, OMe) complexes was prepared and studied for catalytic formic acid disproportionation. The relationship between the electron donating strength of the bipyridine substituents and methanol production of the corresponding complexes was analyzed; the unsubstituted (R = H) complex was the most selective for methanol formation.