Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction to formate is a key step in solar fuel production. Efficient catalysts to reduce CO2 selectively to formate without CO as a side product need to be developed. We discovered that iridium dihydride complexes supported by PCP-type pincer ligands rapidly insert CO2 to yield ?-2 formate monohydride products in THF. In acetonitrile-water mixtures these complexes become efficient and selective catalysts for electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to formate. A remarkable solvent effect was identified to improve the catalyst efficiency and the catalytic potential. Extensive electrochemical and NMR spectroscopic studies have provided mechanistic details and structures of key intermediates.

Electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to formate by iridium dihydride pincer complexes

244th National Meeting (2012)

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