Issue 27, 2025

Visible-light-driven photocatalytic CO2 reduction using ruthenium complexes having a CNC-type pincer ligand: comparison of substituent effect on a CNC ligand

Abstract

A series of ruthenium complexes bearing a CNC-type pincer ligand with different substituents (CF3, H, and OMe) were synthesized and characterized for visible-light-driven photocatalytic CO2 reduction. The photocatalytic reactions were conducted using [Ru(dmbpy)3]2+ as a photosensitizer and BI(OH)H as a sacrificial electron donor in a DMA–TEOA mixed solvent under LED light irradiation. The main product was formic acid, along with small amounts of CO and H2. Contrary to previous findings that Papish et al. reported, the catalyst with an electron-withdrawing CF3 substituent on the CNC ligand exhibited higher turnover number for formic acid production (TONHCOOH = 4742) compared to the electron-donating OMe substituent (TONHCOOH = 2152) after 24 hours of irradiation. Addition experiments revealed that the cessation of CO2 reduction was primarily due to the degradation of the photosensitizer rather than deactivation of the catalyst. ESI-MS analysis detected the formation of a carbonate complex prior to the photocatalytic reaction. This study provides insights into the effect of substituents on CNC pincer ligands in ruthenium complexes for photocatalytic CO2 reduction.

Graphical abstract: Visible-light-driven photocatalytic CO2 reduction using ruthenium complexes having a CNC-type pincer ligand: comparison of substituent effect on a CNC ligand

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
16 Apr 2025
Accepted
16 Jun 2025
First published
18 Jun 2025

Dalton Trans., 2025,54, 10683-10690

Visible-light-driven photocatalytic CO2 reduction using ruthenium complexes having a CNC-type pincer ligand: comparison of substituent effect on a CNC ligand

Y. Arikawa, M. Morinaga, M. Kubota, K. Omoto, E. Sakuda and K. Umakoshi, Dalton Trans., 2025, 54, 10683 DOI: 10.1039/D5DT00900F

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements