Towards a methanol economy based on homogeneous catalysis: methanol to H₂ and CO₂ to methanol

摘要

The possibility to implement both the exhaustive dehydrogenation of aqueous methanol to hydrogen and CO and the reverse reaction, the hydrogenation of CO to methanol and water, may pave the way to a methanol based economy as part of a promising renewable energy system. Recently, homogeneous catalytic systems have been reported which are able to promote either one or the other of the two reactions under mild conditions. Here, we review and discuss these developments.