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Frustrated Lewis pairs save the planet

22 August 2009 - carbon dioxide sequestration

Stephan and partners have expanded their frustrated Lewis pair concept into carbon dioxide sequestration. Tris(pentafluorophenyl)boron and tri-tert-butylphosphine are mixed in bromobenzene and 1 bar carbon dioxide and the product -described as a phosphonium type of carbamic acid - forms immediately! (DOI). Heating this compound to 80° C releases the gas again.


More recent frustrated Lewis news: a B-N system tackling 1,3-dienes (DOI) or nitrous oxide ( DOI) and a N-B Lewis pair based on lutidine and B(C6F5)3 capable of THF ring-opening (DOI),