This project is a joint effort between the Lehnert and Meyerhoff laboratories to develop a more efficient copper catalyst that can electrochemically reduce nitrite (NO2-) to nitric oxide (NO) for use in biomedical devices, such as intravenous catheters. NO has beneficial effects, which include preventing blood clotting and bacterial biofilm formation. Thus, this could prevent infections in patients with catheters, which is a current complication with their use. The Lehnert and Meyerhoff laboratories have already found a catalyst, Cu(II)TPMA, that reduces NO2- to NO. However, the catalyst is inefficient for the selective reduction of NO2- to NO since other reactions are observed. To this end, TPMA derivatives with varied pyridine chain lengths and with a carboxylate ligand have been synthesized to find more efficient and selective copper catalysts for NO production. Organic synthesis techniques have been utilized, including TLC, column chromatography, and 1H-NMR for ligand synthesis. The corresponding copper complexes were characterized by EPR and UV/vis spectroscopy as well cyclic voltammetry, and then tested for their ability to produce NO by bulk electrolysis. We hope to find the most efficient water-soluble copper catalyst that selectively reduces NO2- into NO. Thus far, we have prepared three complexes, and preliminary results from their electrocatalytic performance for reducing NO2- to NO are presented.

Design of copper catalysts for electrochemical production of NO on demand

254th National Meeting (2017)

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