CO2 Fixation
Carbon dioxide, the waste material from power plants, is an abundant and sustainable feedstock for chemical synthesis. Unfortunately, it is not very reactive! With research and especially catalyst development, it is possibleto expand the range of reactions of CO2 and greatly increase the efficiency of existing reactions. One reaction that Dr. Jessop has increased the efficiency of is the hydrogenation of CO2 to formic acid.
Other products such as DMF and alkyl formates can also be made by this method.
The Jessop group has also discovered new reactions of CO2 with aniline.
Currently, the Jessop group is working on a novel hydrocarboxylation of ketones using CO2 and hydrogen (below). The product is a chiral hydroxycarboxylic acid with value in the pharmaceutical industry.
