Catalytic Disproportionation of Formic Acid to Generate Methanol

The homogeneously catalyzed disproportionation of formic acid to methanol, water, and carbon dioxide is accomplished by only 10 ppm of a readily accessible iridium catalyst, [Cp*Ir(bpy)(H 2 O)] 2+ (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine). Methanol is produced under mild, aqueous conditions, without the use of any organic solvents or hydrogen gas.