Abstract
We show both experimentally and theoretically that CO can be activated (protonated) by Bronsted acid sites to form the super-electrophilic HCO+ cation in H-zeolites such as mordenite. This mode of activation of carbon monoxide is novel for solid materials and has not been observed before. This reactivity stems from the confining environment of zeolitic micropores. HCO+ is a catalytically active super-electrophile showing catalytic reactivity in C-H and C-O bond activation, leading, for example, to methanol carbonylation to acetic acid.