Abstract
An NHC-coordinated diphosphene is employed as ligand for the synthesis of a hydrocarbon-soluble monomeric Au(I) hydride, which readily adds CO(2) at room temperature yielding the corresponding Au(I) formate. The reversible reaction can be expedited by the addition of NHC, which induces β-hydride shift and the removal of CO(2) from equilibrium through the formation of an NHC-CO(2) adduct. The Au(I) formate is alternatively formed by dehydrogenative coupling of the Au(I) hydride with formic acid (HCO(2) H), thus in total establishing a reaction sequence for the Au(I) hydride mediated dehydrogenation of HCO(2) H as chemical hydrogen storage material.