The reduction of carbon dioxide to chemical fuels such as carbon monoxide is an important challenge in the field of renewable energy conversion chemistry. Several types of rhenium polypyrridyl complexes have been shown to be competent photocatalysts for this process, however, many of these systems suffer from poor light absorption cross sections throughout the visible region. To address this issue, BODIPY light harvesting moieties have been incorporated onto a 2,2'-(bipyridine)tricarbonylrhenium(I) complex and the resulting compounds have been studied using a combination of optical, electrochemical and X-ray crystallographic experiments. Systematic variation of the attachment point of the BODIPY chromophores to the bipyridine ligand influences the electronic structure of the rhenium complexes and the ability of these systems to catalytically promote the reduction of CO2. The synthesis, characterization, and redox properties of these complexes will be described. The extent to which these platforms can activate CO2 will also be discussed.

Reduction of CO2 using rhenium bipyridine complexes containing ancillary BODIPY moieties

248th National Meeting (2014)

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