Novel tri-N-heterocyclic carbene (triNHC)-coordinated iridium catalysts (Ir(triNHC)) were employed for generating clean hydrogen and useful Cn acids from biomass-derived alcohols. The high efficiency and fast rate of hydrogen production (maximum turnover frequency = 13,080 h-1 and 485 L of H2/g-cat·h) from sustainable ethylene glycol were elucidated by the increased electron-richness of Ir(triNHC) complexes where three NHC ligands were coordinated to an iridium(I) ion. Elaborated mechanistic studies support the proposed reaction mechanisms forming H2 and Cn acids. This Ir(triNHC)-catalyzed process converting sustainable alcohols to useful fuels and chemicals is a promising carbon-neutral process.
This study was supported by the Carbon to X Program (No. 2020M3H7A1098283) and National Research Foundation Program (No. 2022R1A2C1004387) by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Basic Science Research Program (No. 2021R1A6A1A10044950) by the Ministry of Education, Republic of Korea.This study was supported by the Carbon to X Program (No. 2020M3H7A1098283) and National Research Foundation Program (No. 2022R1A2C1004387) by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Basic Science Research Program (No. 2021R1A6A1A10044950) by the Ministry of Education, Republic of Korea. National Research Foundation of Korea (2020M3H7A1098283, 2021R1A6A1A10044950, 2022R1A2C1004387).
