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Updated: Nov 7, 2025

Temperature-programmed Deoxygenation of Acetic Acid on Molybdenum Carbide Catalysts
Published on: February 7, 2017
Synthesis of acetic acid from CO2, CH3I and H2 using a water-soluble electron storage catalyst
Takeshi Yatabe1, Kazuki Kamitakahara2, Kaede Higashijima2
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (WPI-I2CNER), Kyushu University, 744 Moto-oka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan. ogo.seiji.872@m.kyushu-u.ac.jp and Center for Small Molecule Energy, Kyushu University, 744 Moto-oka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
Abstract:
This paper reports a possible mechanism of acetic acid formation from CO2, CH3I and H2 in aqueous media and the central role played by a water-soluble Rh-based electron storage catalyst. In addition to water-solubility, we also report the crystal structures of two presumed intermediates. These findings together reveal (1) the advantage of water, not only as a green solvent, but also as a reactive Lewis base to extract H+ from H2, (2) the role of the metal (Rh) centre as a point for storing electrons from H2 and (3) the importance of an electron-withdrawing ligand (quaterpyridine, qpy) that supports electron storage.
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