The electron-donating effect of methyl in pyridine-2-thiol cobalt complexes regulating electrocatalytic reduction of CO2

Abstract

A series of novel cobalt complexes with a methyl substituted pyridine-2-thiol ligand were developed for the catalytic electroreduction of CO₂. Kinetic isotope effect (KIE) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed. The synergism of para-N of mercaptopyridine in proton transfer resulted in a higher catalytic activity for 1. This study demonstrated the effect of introducing an electron-donating group on CO₂ electroreduction.