A perspective on exploration of synthetic reaction pathways of stable metallocarboxylic acids and structural features of MCOOH moiety

•Catalytic transformation of CO and H2O to yield CO2 and H2 occurs in Water-gas shift reaction (WGSR) whereas the metallozyme-Carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH), present in certain aerobic and anaerobic carboxidotrophic bacteria, catalyses the transformation of atmospheric CO to CO2 with release of 2H+ and 2e−.•In both cases the reactions proceed via an intermediate metallocarboxylic acid., the latter undergoes decarboxylation. Thus, synthetic approaches and related reaction pathways for stable M-COOH bonded complexes are imperative for further development of model systems to carry out CODH activity. In this manuscript we have summarized the different synthetic techniques with the corresponding reaction pathways for stabilizing metallocarboxylic acids and their structures.•Herein we demonstrate the importance of the chemistry of metallocarboxyllic acids in relation to CODH activity and WGSR. We have also taken into consideration the synthetic procedures of hydroxycarbonyls by selective nucleophilic attack of coordinated carbonyls by H2O/ OH‒, insertion of CO into M‒OH as well as insertion of CO2 into M‒H bonds. The reaction pathways are also summarized. The role of hydrogen bonding in stabilizing MCOOH complexes in crystalline state as well as the nature of M‒C, C=O and C‒OH bonds have also been collated .