Well-defined group 12 metal complexes for CO2 functionalisation

The present contribution comprehensively reviews well-defined group 12 metal complexes that react with CO 2 , an area primarily dominated by Zn(II) complexes. Discrete Zn(II) complexes have received significant attention for both stoichiometric and catalytic CO 2 functionalisation over the past 15 years, although initial stoichiometric studies in this area date back to the 1980s. Catalytic Zn-based CO 2 functionalisation, most notably including hydrosilylation/boration catalysis and cyclic carbonates formation from CO 2 and epoxides, has recently been extensively studied. Very recent developments on the use of Zn-based systems for electro- and photocatalytic CO 2 reduction catalysis are also noteworthy. Besides its chronological importance, stoichiometric CO 2 fixation by various Zn species remains an attractive research line, for instance, to better understand the structure and function of Zn-containing enzymes such as carbonic anhydrase. The diverse aspects of Zn-based CO 2 functionalisation, along with the associated Zn complexes, are thus discussed herein. Finally, the few Cd(II) and Hg(II) complexes known to react with CO 2 are reviewed.