Phenanthroline based pincer complexes useful as catalysts for the preparation of methanol from carbondioxide

A phenanthroline based pincer catalyst complexes of Formula (I);

• wherein
• M is a noble metal, transition metal (1st, 2nd and 3rd row of elements), alkaline-earth—or rare-earth elements;
• Y is selected from the group consisting of phosphine (PRaRb), phosphite P(ORa)(ORb), phosphinite P(ORa)(Rb), amine (NRaRb), imine, sulphide SRa, oxide ORa, sulfoxide S(O)Ra, sulphone SO2Ra, oxazoline, N-heterocyclic carbine, heteroaryl containing at least one heteroatom selected from nitrogen or Sulphur;
• L is selected from the group consisting of CO, BH3, BH2, PRaRbRc, P(ORa)(ORb)(ORc), nitrile (RCN) or isonitrile (RNC);
• R, Ra, Rb, and Rc are selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl which may be further substituted heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, alkylcycloalkyl, alkylaryl, alkylheterocyclyl, alkylheteroaryl.
• A ligand used is aromatic or dearomatic is selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, OCOR, OCOCF3, OSO2R, OSO2CF3, CN, OR, N(R)2 and RS;
• R1, represents hydrogen or one or two substituents wherein each such substituent is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl (linear and branched), cycloalkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, alkylcycloalkyl, alkylaryl, alkylheterocyclyl, alkylheteroaryl, halogen, triflurometyl, nitro, amide, ester (—CO2R), —OC(O)R, —OC(O)CF3, —OSO2R, —OSO2CF3) cyano, alkoxy, alkylamino (mono or di), arylamino (mono or di), —SR, an inorganic support or a polymeric moiety.
• R2 and R3 form a 6 membered aromatic ring which is further substituted with one or two substituents wherein each such substituent is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl (linear and branched), cycloalkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, alkylcycloalkyl, alkylaryl, alkylheterocyclyl, alkylheteroaryl, halogen, triflurometyl, nitro, amide, ester (—CO2R), —OC(O)R, —OC(O)CF3, —OSO2R, —OSO2CF3) cyano, alkoxy, alkylamino (mono or di), arylamino (mono or di), —SR, an inorganic support or a polymeric moiety.
• R3 and R4 form a six member aromatic ring which is further substituted with one or two substituents wherein each such substituent is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl (linear and branched), cycloalkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, alkylcycloalkyl, alkylaryl, alkylheterocyclyl, alkylheteroaryl, halogen, triflurometyl, nitro, amide, ester (—CO2R), —OC(O)R, —OC(O)CF3, —OSO2R, —OSO2CF3) cyano, alkoxy, alkylamino (mono or di), arylamino (mono or di), —SR, an inorganic support or a polymeric moiety.