Photogeneration of active formate decomposition catalysts from transition metal complexes containing manganese.

摘要

A process for producing hydrogen from formate and water by photogenerating an active formate decomposition catalyst from a transition metal complex having a formula RMn/CO)<Sub>3</Sub> is disclosed. The preferred catalysts are CH<Sub>3</Sub>C<Sub>5</Sub>H<Sub>4</Sub>Mn(CO)<Sub>3</Sub> and C<Sub>5</Sub>H<Sub>5</Sub>Mn(CO)<Sub>3</Sub>. This process overcomes the slower reaction rates when utilizing Group Vlb hexacarbonyl compounds, Cr(CO)<Sub>6</Sub>, Mo(CO)<Sub>6</Sub>, or W(CO)<Sub>6</Sub> as active formate decomposition catalysts. Additionally, this process may be combined with a process for generating formate from carbon monoxide and hydroxide in a basic solution. The combined processes are the water gas shift reaction.