The electrochemical reduction of CO2 is a challenging reaction of interest from a fundamental perspective and as a candidate for converting an environmentally harmful gas into a valuable fuel. The main challenge related with the reduction of carbon dioxide is the similar thermodynamics for the generation of a variety of products, making it difficult to control the selectivity of the reaction. In this contribution, our recent achievements using ligand design to develop molecular catalysts for selective electrochemical reduction of CO2 will be discussed. Electrocatalysts bearing a 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine paired with a bidentate ligand containing mixed pyridine-N-heterocyclic carbene donors are explored. The influence of the bite angle of the bidentate ligand, the identity of the ligand in the precatalyst that occupies the eventual CO2 binding site, the nature of the metal center used, and the role of the ligand isomerization pathways will all be discussed.

Structure-function studies of carbene-supported electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction

2019 Spring National Meeting

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