Insights into the activation process of CO2 through Dihydrogenation reaction.

Based on first principle calculation, activation of CO2 has been analyzed thoroughly by using different conceptual density functional theory based descriptors like reaction force, reaction force constant, reaction electronic flux, dual descriptor, etc. via dihydrogenation reaction of B3N3, H2 and CO2. The total reaction is a two-step reaction where initially B3N3H2 is formed from the reaction between B3N3 and H2 and in the second step HCOOH is form due to the reaction of CO2 by B3N3H2. It has been found that the di-hydrogen reaction for the CO2 activation is endothermic in nature, which can be changed to exothermic reaction by applying proper external electric field. Movement of H2 plays an important role in the CO2 activation process. The reaction force constant, Wiberg bond index and its derivative reveal that the reaction is slightly asynchronous and concerted in nature.