Amino Acid-Based Ionic Liquids-Aided CO2 Hydrogenation to Methanol

Abstract

This study explored the use of amino acid-based ionic liquids to facilitate the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into methanol through catalytic hydrogenation. Combining tetrabutylammonium L-argininate (TBA⋅Arg) with the ruthenium Ru-MACHO-BH complex allowed achieving significant yields of methanol under optimized conditions, with a turnover number (TON) up to 700. By systematically varying key reaction parameters, we demonstrated that the TBA⋅Arg ionic liquid promotes the efficient hydrogenation pathway leading to methanol formation, thus offering a sustainable approach to CO₂ valorization. These findings underscore the potential of amino acid-based ionic liquids in catalyzing the transformation of CO₂ into valuable chemicals, contributing to carbon mitigation efforts.