Iron-Catalyzed Reduction of CO2 into Methylene: Formation of C-N, C-O, and C-C Bonds.

We report herein the use of the (dihydrido)iron catalyst, Fe(H)2(dmpe)2, for the selective reduction of CO2 into either bis(boryl)acetal or methoxyborane depending on the hydroborane used as a reductant. In a one-pot two-step procedure, the in situ generated bis(boryl)acetal was shown to be a reactive and versatile source of methylene to create new C–N but also C–O and C–C bonds.