Catalyst Protonation Changes the Mechanism of Electrochemical Hydride Transfer to CO2

It is well-known that addition of a cationic functional group to a molecule lowers the necessary applied potential for an electron transfer (ET) event. This report studies the effect of a proton (a cation) on the mechanism of electrochemically driven hydride transfer (HT) catalysis. Protonated, air-stable [HFe4N­(triethyl phosphine (PEt3))4(CO)8] (H4) was synthesized by reaction of PEt3 with [Fe4N­(CO)12]− (A –) in tetrahydrofuran, with addition of benzoic acid to the reaction mixture. The reduction potential of H4 is −1.70 V vs SCE which is 350 mV anodic of the reduction potential for 4 –. Reactivity studies are consistent with HT to CO2 or to H+ (carbonic acid), as the chemical event following ET, when the electrocatalysis is performed under 1 atm of CO2 or N2, respectively. Taken together, the chemical and electrochemical studies of mechanism suggest an ECEC mechanism for the reduction of CO2 to formate or H+ to H2, promoted by H4. This stands in contrast to an ET, two chemical steps, followed by an ET (ECCE) mechanism that is promoted by the less electron rich catalyst A –, since A – must be reduced to A 2– before HA – can be accessed.