Lithium-promoted hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to formates by heterobimetallic hydridozinc alkoxide clusters

The remarkably distinct reactivity of hydridozinc heterobimetallic cubanes [((HZnOBu)-Bu-t)(4-n)(thf.(LiOBu)-Bu-t)(n)] 1a-1d towards CO2 is reported-the hydride transfer from Zn-H to CO2 is drastically accelerated in the presence of Li ions in 1b-1d which led to the respective metal formate hydrates; the systems are inspiring models for the selective conversion of water gas into formates on lithium-promoted ZnO supports.