Catalysts for the production of methanol from carbon dioxide

A process for the production of methanol from CO2, the process comprising:

• combining a catalyst of the Formula:
• wherein:
• A is selected from PR2R3, NR2R3 and SR2;
• R1 is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, phenyl and substituted phenyl;
• R2 and R3 are independently selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, phenyl and substituted phenyl;
• R4 and R5 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, OR6 and NR7R8;
• or
• R4 and R5 are connected together by an —O—B—O— bridge to form, together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, a 5-, 6-, 7-, 8 or 9-membered mono or bicyclic ring system or a substituted 5-, 6-, 7-, 8 or 9-membered mono or bicyclic ring system;
• R6 is alkyl or substituted alkyl;
• and
• R7 and R8 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, phenyl and substituted phenyl;
• and
• a hydrogen source to produce a mixture;
• exposing the mixture to CO2 under conditions to convert the CO2 into methoxyboranes;
• and
• hydrolyzing the methoxyboranes to produce methanol.

A catalyst for the reduction of CO2 of Formula II:

• wherein:
• LB is a Lewis base;
• LA is a Lewis acid;
• and
• R9 and R10 are independently selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, phenyl and substituted phenyl.

A process for the production of methanol from CO2, the process comprising:

• combining a catalyst of Formula:
• wherein:
• A is selected from PR11R12, NR11R12 and SR11;
• R9, R10, R11 and R12 are independently selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, phenyl and substituted phenyl;
• R13 and R14 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, OR15 and NR16R17;
• or
• R13 and R14 are connected together by an —O—B—O— bridge to form, together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, a 5-, 6-, 7-, 8 or 9-membered mono or bicyclic ring system or a substituted 5-, 6-, 7-, 8 or 9-membered mono or bicyclic ring system;
• R15 is alkyl or substituted alkyl;
• and
• R16 and R17 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, phenyl and substituted phenyl;
• and
• a hydrogen source to produce a mixture;
• exposing the mixture to CO2 under conditions to convert the CO2 into methoxyboranes;
• and
• hydrolyzing the methoxyboranes to produce methanol.

A catalyst having the Formula:

• wherein:
• A is selected from PR2R3, NR2R3 and SR2;
• and
• R1 is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, phenyl and substituted phenyl;
• and
• R2 and R3 are independently selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, phenyl and substituted phenyl.