Selective production of acetone in the electrochemical reduction of CO2 catalyzed by a Ru-naphthyridine complex

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/(SICI)1521-3773(19990201)38:3<362::AID-ANIE362>3.0.CO;2-T

The controlled potential electrolysis of [Ru(bpy)(napy)₂(CO)₂](BF₄)₂ (1; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, napy = 1,8-naphthyridine) in the presence of LiBF₄ in CO₂-saturated DMSO at -1.65 V (vs. Ag/Ag⁺) produced CO and Li₂CO₃ [Eq. (a)], while similar electrolysis in the presence of (CH₃)₄NBF₄ resulted in formation of acetone together with (CH₃)₃N and {(CH₃)₄N}₂CO₃ [Eq. (b)]. This represents the first almost selective generation of acetone upon electrochemical reduction of CO₂. The selectivity is ascribed to depression of reductive cleavage of the Ru-CO bond of 1 due to an attack of the nonbonded nitrogen atom of napy at the carbonyl carbon atom.