Mediated Electrochemical Reduction of CO2. Preparation and Comparison of an Isoelectronic Series of Complexes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00235a019

The preparation and characterization of complexes of the type(BF4)2 are described (for M = Ni, L is P(OMe)3 and PEt3; for M = Pd, L is CH3CN, P(OMe)3, PEt3, P(CH2OH)3, and PPh3; for M = Pt, L is PEt3; triphos is PhP(CH2CH2PPh2.On the basis of cyclic voltammetry and bulk electrolysis expariments; the Pd complexes are shown to catalyze the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to CO in acidic acetonitrile solutions.The analogous Ni and Pt complexes are not catalysts for CO2 reduction under the same conditions.Kinetic studies have been carried out on (BF4)2 and a mechanism for the reduction of CO2 is proposed.