title: Unexpected CO2 splitting reactions to form CO with N-heterocyclic carbenes as organocatalysts and aromatic aldehydes as oxygen acceptors.
abstract: The catalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide under mild conditions using aromatic aldehydes as reductants and NHCs as organocatalysts was developed. This carbon dioxide splitting reaction provides a new method for metal-free carbon dioxide reduction and steps forward in utilizing carbon dioxide as a renewable "green" source under mild conditions. On the other hand, this reaction also shows a new economical way to oxidize aromatic aldehydes under mild conditions with carbon dioxide and could be applied in pharmaceutical synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore 138669.
authors.forename: Liuqun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Yugen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000447:Aldehydes / Q000737:chemistry*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D008697:Methane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C030011:carbene; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D008697:Methane; D010100:Oxygen