Methylation Reactions with CO 2

Last decade has witnessed a flourish of CO 2 chemical transformation, in which CO 2 reductive functionalization attracts tremendous attention due to its ability to introduce formyl, methylene, and methyl group to the nucleophilic site of a molecule. Among the CO 2 reductive functionalization reactions, methylation of N-, C-, and S-nucleophiles has been intensively investigated and shown to be a potential alternative to the traditional methylation reaction using toxic reagents. To provide the state of the art of methylation reactions with CO 2 , this chapter deliberates the recent progress/overview on this field according to the type of nucleophiles and reductants such as molecular hydrogen, hydrosilane, or hydroboranes to form NC, CC, and SC bonds. Both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalyses are involved and the catalytic mechanisms are involved. Based on the existing results and the development trends of the methylation reaction with CO 2 , conclusions and prospects are also given. We hope that this chapter can shed light on the further development of methylation reaction with CO 2 and spurs a new wave of innovation for the reductive functionalization of CO 2 .