In this work, we have developed a
Ru single-atom substituted polyoxometalate-based
ionic liquid ([TOMA6SiW11O39Ru(dmso)],
TOMA = methyltrioctylammonium, named as Ru-POM-IL) and confirmed that
the single-atom Ru is anchored into the framework of the POM. The
binary ionic liquid (IL) system, composed of the POM-based IL and
1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium acetate (BMImOAc), exhibits high efficiency
for N-formylation of amines with CO2 and H2,
leading to formylamides with high yields in toluene-IL biphasic media.
The characterization by laser confocal scanning microscopy reveals
a specific sponge-like structure of the binary IL, facilitating the
efficient contact between the catalytic active sites and the substrate
molecules. Detailed investigations elucidate that the reaction proceeds
via a pathway with formate intermediates, including CO2 adsorption and activation by BMImOAc, morpholine-assisted heterolytic
splitting of H2 into Ru–Hδ‑ species and the Hδ+ attachment to the morpholine
N center; the coupling of CO2 with Ru–Hδ‑ to afford formate species; and then the dehydration of the formate
intermediates to formamides. The catalytic system exhibits offered
advantages of high efficiency, robustness, and recyclability in the
N-formylation reaction.