One- and two-electron pathways in the electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂by fac-Re(bpy)(CO)₃Cl (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine)

Abstract

The cyclic voltammetry of fac-Re(bpy)(CO)3Cl (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) and of the intermediate complexes formed by bulk electrolysis in MeCN solution in the presence and absence of CO2 has been interpreted in terms of two different electrocatalytic pathways for the reduction of CO2 to Co, one involving an initial one-electron reduction and the other an initial two-electron reduction.