Effect of the ortho-Hydroxyl Groups on a Bipyridine Ligand of Iridium Complexes for the High-Pressure Gas Generation from the Catalytic Decomposition of Formic Acid.

The hydroxyl groups of a 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) ligand near the metal center activated the catalytic performance of the Ir complex for the dehydrogenation of formic acid at high pressure. The position of the hydroxyl groups on the ligand affected the catalytic durability for the high-pressure H2 generation through the decomposition of formic acid. The Ir complex with a bipyridine ligand functionalized with para-hydroxyl groups shows a good durability with a constant catalytic activity during the reaction even under high-pressure conditions, whereas deactivation was observed for an Ir complex with a bipyridine ligand with ortho-hydroxyl groups (2). In the presence of high-pressure H2 , complex 2 decomposed into the ligand and an Ir trihydride complex through the isomerization of the bpy ligand. This work provides the development of a durable catalyst for the high-pressure H2 production from formic acid.