The Dual Effect of Coordinating -NH Groups and Light in the Electrochemical CO2 Reduction with Pyridylamino Co Complexes

CO2 electroreduction could be improved by applying conceptualized strategies to overcome catalytic bottlenecks. In this regard, we report two new cobalt(II) complexes [Co(Py-2(R)N-3)(OTf)](OTf) (Co(R), R=H, Me) based on a new C-2-symmetric pentacoordinate chiral ligand that are active on the electrochemical CO2 reduction to CO. One of the complexes has a N-H group oriented towards the CO2 binding site (Co-H), while the other has a N-Me group with the same orientation (Co-Me), as showed by X-ray diffraction. We have studied the effect of introducing hydrogen bonding sites, i. e. N-H in Co-H, as a strategy to stabilize reaction intermediates. The complex bearing coordinating unprotected N-H group (Co-H) displays catalytic CO2 reduction at the Co-II/I redox potential (-1.9 V vs. Fc, ca. 40 % FYCO) whereas Co-Me shows CO2 reduction at the Co-I/0 redox pair. FTIR-SEC and DFT calculations identified a [Co-I-CO](+) cation as catalytic intermediate. The beneficial effect of the N-H group has been attributed to the stabilization of reaction intermediates or transition states and by the larger electron-donating capacity, thus enhancing the nucleophilic character of the Co-I intermediate. The study also points to the CO dissociation from the Co(I)-CO resting state intermediate as one of the bottlenecks of the catalytic cycle, which can be overcome with light irradiation, resulting in an increase of the total CO production (-1.9 V, 81 % FYCO, 11.2 TONCO) at the Co-II/I redox potential.