Hydrogenation and electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to formate with a single Co catalyst

Abstract

A cobalt(I) complex is shown to be capable of both electrocatalytic reduction and hydrogenation of CO₂ to formate. Several proposed intermediates are characterized and thus form the basis for a proposed mechanism that allows for the dual reactivity: reduction of CO₂via H₂ addition, and H⁺/e⁻ equivalents. The work makes use of a novel tris(phosphino) ligand. When a pendent amine is attached to the ligand, no change in catalytic reactivity is observed.