Abstract :

The activation of thermodynamically stable CO2 by metal catalysts or metalloenzymes is necessary for the conversion of CO2 to chemical feedstocks, which is of major relevance. Metal-free organ catalysts for application in CO2 activation at ambient settings have been developed recently, providing new opportunities for Chemistry of carbon fixing. Here, we detail ionic liquid-mediated CO2 collection and activation coupled with photo redox catalysis for CO synthesis. It has been shown that the activation and reduction of CO2 is profoundly affected by the chemical nature of the anions and the organic functional groups on the imidazolium cations of ionic liquids, as well as the reaction media. By connecting ionic liquid-based materials with chromophore molecules, this photochemical pathway offers novel possibilities for carbon fixation by rationally designed chemical systems, allowing us to overcome the formidable obstacles in artificial photosynthesis.