Scientists Report Novel CO2-to-Methanol Scheme

摘要

Scientists at Singapore's Institute of Bioengineering & Nanotechnology (IBN) this month report that they've discovered a novel scheme to convert CO2 into methanol. The IBN report (see http://www.ibn.a-star.edu.sg/images/cms_press/press_49.pdf) says the researchers "activated carbon dioxide in a mild and non-toxic process to produce methanol… "IBN scientists have made carbon dioxide react by using N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), a novel organocatalyst. In contrast to heavy metal catalysts that contain toxic and unstable components, NHCs are stable, even in the presence of oxygen.