In view of the growing environmental concerns and the need to involve alternative sources of raw materials in the chemical industry, intensive research efforts in the last decades have focused on carbon dioxide reactions. In this context, the present review discusses prior studies that were aimed at producing commercially important compounds, such as acids, alcohols, organic carbonates, and polycarbonates, in homogeneous catalytic systems that contain transition-metal complexes. Such systems have been traditionally valued for their high activity and selectivity under relatively mild conditions. The review provides systematized information both on CO₂ reactions with hydrogen to produce C₁ chemicals such as formic acid and methanol, and on CO₂ interactions with organics (e.g., olefins, alcohols, and epoxides) to produce valuable chemical compounds.

Methods for isolating and recycling homogeneous hydroformylation catalysts used in the industry and promising research works on the development of novel ligands and selection of solvent systems are surveyed. The role of membrane nanofiltration as one of the possible means of separating a homogeneous catalyst from the reaction mixture is specified.

We present the quantitative conversion of guaiacol and diphenyl ether to cyclohexane over supported RuO₂ catalyst. In situ reduction of the RuO₂ species occurs simultaneously with the hydrogenation process, contributing to higher catalytic activity.

Specific features of the tandem hydroformylation–acetalization of a series of unsaturated compounds and polyols in the presence of a water-soluble catalytic system containing a rhodium catalyst...