Oxalate Formation in Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Catalyzed by Rhodium-Sulfur Cluster

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/cl.1994.2175

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 catalyzed by a triangular rhodium complex <(RhCp^*)3(μ3-S)2>²⁺ selectively produced formate and oxalate in the presence of Bu4NBF4 and LiBF4, respectively, under the controlled potential electrolysis at -1.50 V (vs.SCE) in CO2-saturated CH3CN.A solution IR spectrum evidenced the adduct formation between <(RHCp^*)3(μ3-S)2>⁰ and CO2 as the possible precursor for the oxalate formation.