Four-electron reduction of dioxygen catalysed by dinuclear cobalt complexes bridged by bis(terpyridyl)anthracene

Abstract

Dinuclear cobalt-1,10-phenanthroline (1) and 2,2′-bipyridine (2) complexes bridged by 1,8-bis(2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyrid-4′-yl)anthracene (btpyan) were prepared. Both of the complexes selectively catalysed the electrochemical four-electron reduction of dioxygen to H₂O without the generation of H₂O₂ as a two-electron reduction product.