NHC-containing manganese(I) electrocatalysts for the two-electron reduction of CO2.
The synthesis and characterization of the first catalytic manganese N-heterocyclic carbene complexes are reported: MnBr(N-methyl-N'-2-pyridylbenzimidazol-2-ylidine)(CO)3 and MnBr(N-methyl-N'-2-pyridylimidazol-2-ylidine)(CO)3. Both new species mediate the reduction of CO2 to CO following two-electron reduction of the Mn(I) center, as observed with preparative scale electrolysis and verified with (13)CO2. The two-electron reduction of these species occurs at a single potential, rather than in two sequential steps separated by hundreds of millivolts, as is the case for previously reported MnBr(2,2'-bipyridine)(CO)3. Catalytic current enhancement is observed at voltages similar to MnBr(2,2'-bipyridine)(CO)3.
Center for Computational Quantum Chemistry, University of Georgia (USA). jagarwal@uga.edu.
Jay
J
Agarwal
Travis W
TW
Shaw
Charles J
CJ
Stanton
George F
GF
Majetich
Andrew B
AB
Bocarsly
Henry F
HF
Schaefer
N-heterocyclic carbenes; carbon dioxide; catalysis; electrochemistry; manganese