Formation and characterization of water-soluble hydrido-ruthenium(II) complexes of 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane and their catalytic activity in hydrogenation of CO2 and HCO3- in aqueous solution

The water-soluble tertiary phosphine complex of ruthenium(II), RuCl2(PTA)4], (PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane) was used as catalyst precursor for hydrogenation of CO2 and bicarbonate in aqueous solution, in the absence of amine or other additives, under mild conditions. Reaction of RuCl2(PTA)4] and H2 (60 bar) gives the hydrides RuH2(PTA)4] (at pH = 12.0) and RuH(PTA)4X] (X = Cl- or H2O) (at pH = 2.0). In presence of excess PTA, formation of the unparalleled cationic pentakis-phosphino species, HRu(PTA)5]+, was unambiguously established by 1H and 31P NMR measurements. The same hydrides were observed when Ru(H2O)6]tos]2 (tos = toluene-4-sulfonate) reacted with PTA under H2 pressure. The rate of CO2 hydrogenation strongly depends on the pH. The highest initial reaction rate (TOF = 807.3 h(-1)) was determined for a 10% HCO3-/90% CO2 mixture (pH = 5.86), whereas the reduction was very slow both at low and high pH (CO2 and Na2CO3 solutions, respectively). 1H and 31P NMR studies together with the kinetic measurements suggested that HCO3- was the real substrate and RuH(PTA)4X] the catalytically active hydride species in this reaction. Hydrogenation of HCO3- showed an induction period which could be ascribed to the slow formation of the catalytically active hydride species.