A Lysine‐Based System for CO₂ Capture and Catalytic Utilization to Produce Formates: Irreproducibility and Conflicting Reactivity

Abstract

Recently, we have investigated the amino acid L‐lysine promoted CO2 capture and in‐situ hydrogenation to produce formate applying ruthenium‐ and manganese‐based catalysts (Chem. Sci. 2021, 12, 6020, Nature Energy 2022, 7, 438). Noteworthy, following this process CO2 can be captured from ambient air and directly converted to formate (TON>50,000). In this Comment, we report how hydrochloride impurities in the amino acid affect the CO2 capture efficiency and therewith lead to an ostensibly different behaviour of D‐ and L‐lysine in the CO2 capture. The results demonstrate the importance of careful analysis of all educts.