Fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide by ruthenium complexes bearing an NHC-based pincer ligand: formation of a methylcarbonato complex and its methylation.

A methylcarbonato ruthenium complex was prepared by capture of CO2 from air using the (CNC)(bpy)Ru scaffold. The methylcarbonato complex was relatively inert to decarboxylation. Treatments with methylating reagents released dimethylcarbonate.