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Near thermal, selective liberation of hydrogen from formic acid catalysed by copper hydride ate complexes
A near thermal two-step catalytic cycle for the selective release of hydrogen from formic acid by mononuclear cuprate anions was revealed using multistage mass spectrometry experiments, deuterium labelling and DFT calculations. In gas-phase ion-molecule reactions, mononuclear copper hydride anions [(L)Cu(H)]− (where L = H−, O2CH−, BH4− and CN−) were found to react with formic acid (HCO2H) to yield [(L)Cu(O2CH)]− and H2. The copper formate anions [(L)Cu(O2CH)]− can decarboxylate via collision-induced dissociation (CID) to reform the copper hydride [(L)Cu(H)]−, thereby closing the two-step catalytic cycle. Analogous labelling experiments with d1-formic acid (DCO2H) reveal that the decarboxylation process also occurs spontaneously. A kinetic study was carried out to provide further insights into the species involved in this reaction. Energetics from density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that the key decarboxylation step can occur without CID, thus in support of experimental observations.
History
Publication title
Dalton TransactionsVolume
52Pagination
1574–1581ISSN
1477-9226Department/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
Royal Soc ChemistryPlace of publication
Thomas Graham House, Science Park, Milton Rd, Cambridge, England, Cambs, Cb4 0WfRights statement
© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2023.Repository Status
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