A bioinspired molybdenum-copper molecular catalyst for CO2 electroreduction.

Non-noble metal molecular catalysts mediating the electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide are still scarce. This work reports the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to formate catalyzed by the bimetallic complex [(bdt)MoVI(O)S2CuICN]2- (bdt = benzenedithiolate), a mimic of the active site of the Mo-Cu carbon monoxide dehydrogenase enzyme (CODH2). Infrared spectroelectrochemical (IR-SEC) studies coupled with density functional theory (DFT) computations revealed that the complex is only a pre-catalyst, the active catalyst being generated upon reduction in the presence of CO2. We found that the two-electron reduction of [(bdt)MoVI(O)S2CuICN]2- triggers the transfer of the oxo moiety to CO2 forming CO3 2- and the complex [(bdt)MoIVS2CuICN]2- and that a further one-electron reduction is needed to generate the active catalyst. Its protonation yields a reactive MoVH hydride intermediate which reacts with CO2 to produce formate. These findings are particularly relevant to the design of catalysts from metal oxo precursors.

The "Metallo"-Diels-Alder Reactions: Examining the Metalloid Behavior of Germanimines.

Addition of MesN3 (Mes=2,4,6-Me3 C6 H2 ) to germylene [(NONtBu )Ge] (NONtBu =O(SiMe2 NtBu)2 ) (1) gives germanimine, [(NONtBu )Ge=NMes] (2). Compound 2 behaves as a metalloid, showing reactivity reminiscent of both transition metal-imido complexes, undergoing [2+2] addition with heterocumulenes and protic sources, as well as an activated diene, undergoing a [4+2] cycloaddition, or "metallo"-Diels-Alder, reaction. In the latter case, the diene includes the Ge=N bond and π-system of the Mes substituent, which is reactive towards dienophiles including benzaldehyde, benzophenone, styrene, and phenylacetylene.