Theoretical Study on the Mechanism of Aqueous Synthesis of Formic Acid Catalyzed by [Ru³⁺]‑EDTA Complex

Because formic acid can be effectively decomposed by catalysis into very pure hydrogen gas, the synthesis of formic acid, especially using CO and H₂O as an intermediate of the water gas shift reaction (WGSR), bears important application significance in industrial hydrogen gas production. Here we report a theoretical study on the mechanism of efficient preparation of formic acid using CO and H₂O catalyzed by a water-soluble [Ru³⁺]-EDTA complex. To determine the feasibility of using the [Ru³⁺]-EDTA catalyst to produce CO-free hydrogen gas in WGSR, two probable reaction paths have been examined: one synthesizes formic acid, while the other converts the reactants directly into CO₂ and H₂, the final products of WGSR. Our calculation results provide a detailed mechanistic rationalization for the experimentally observed selective synthesis of HCOOH by the [Ru³⁺]-EDTA catalyst. The results support the applicability of using the [Ru³⁺]-EDTA catalyst to efficiently synthesize formic acid for hydrogen production. Careful analyses of the electronic structure and interactions of different reaction complexes suggest that the selectivity of the reaction processes is achieved through the proper charge/valence state of the metal center of the [Ru³⁺]-EDTA complex. With the catalytic roles of the ruthenium center and the EDTA ligand being carefully understood, the detailed mechanistic information obtained in this study will help to design more efficient catalysts for the preparation of formic acid and further to produce CO-free H₂ at ambient temperature.