The formate anion: An ab initio study of its equilibrium structure, general harmonic force field and fundamental vibrational frequencies

Recent advances in visible light-activated radical coupling reactions triggered by (i) ruthenium, (ii) iridium and (iii) organic photoredox agents

“…The C-H bond in formic acid is weak (87 kcal mol À1 ) and sodium formate had an even weaker C-H bond as, with gentle heating, sodium formate decomposes to sodium oxalate and hydrogen gas. 182 Therefore, the DABCO radical cation should certainly be able to undergo HAT with 491. Formate radical anion 492 is a strong electron-donor (E 0 = À2.21 V vs. SCE) and it reduced iodobenzene 490a (E 0 = À2.24 V vs. SCE), 183 which produced aryl radical 493a, carbon dioxide, and iodide.…”