The interconversion of formic acid and hydrogen/carbon dioxide using a binuclear ruthenium complex catalyst

The complex [Ru-2(mu-CO)(CO)(4)(mu-dppm)(2)] in acetone solution is an efficient catalyst for the reversible reaction between formic acid and hydrogen/carbon dioxide. Complexes identified during the catalytic reactions include the hydrido and formato complexes [Ru-2(mu-H)(mu-CO)(CO)(4)(mu-dppm)(2)](+), [Ru-2(mu-HCO2)(CO)(4)(mu-dppm)(2)](+), [Ru-2(mu-H)(2)(CO)(4)(mu-dppm)(2)], [Ru2H(HCO2)(CO)(4)(mu-dppm)(2)] and the coordinatively unsaturated [Ru2H(mu-H)(mu-CO)(CO)(2)(mu-dppm)(2)].