Functionalized Ruthenium-Phosphine Metal-Organic Framework for Continuous Vapor-Phase Dehydrogenation of Formic Acid

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are ideal hosts for incorporation of molecular complexes without altering their original ligand environment; molecular catalysts can thus be easily synthesized and used in gas- and vapor-phase reactions operated in continuous mode. We report the immobilization of a molecular ruthenium complex in a phosphine-functionalized MOF that is highly efficient in the vapor-phase dehydrogenation of formic acid. The catalyst exhibited exclusive selectivity to hydrogen and carbon dioxide with outstanding stability at 145 degrees C (TON > 1 290 000). Our results represent a noteworthy improvement over heterogeneous ruthenium systems in terms of selectivity in the gas-phase, while reaching a productivity level higher than that of state-of-the-art homogeneous catalysts.