Molecular catalysis of carbon dioxide reduction using earth-abundant metal complexes as catalysts is a key challenge related to the production of useful products--the "solar fuels"--in which solar energy would be stored. A direct approach using sunlight energy as well as an indirect approach where sunlight is first converted into electricity could be used. A Co(II) complex and a Fe(III) complex, both bearing the same pentadentate N5 ligand (2,13-dimethyl-3,6,9,12,18-pentaazabicyclo[12.3.1]octadeca-1(18),2,12,14,16-pentaene), were synthesized, and their catalytic activity toward CO2 reduction was investigated. Carbon monoxide was formed with the cobalt complex, while formic acid was obtained with the iron-based catalyst, thus showing that the catalysis product can be switched by changing the metal center. Selective CO2 reduction occurs under electrochemical conditions as well as photochemical conditions when using a photosensitizer under visible light excitation (λ > 460 nm, solvent acetonitrile) with the Co catalyst. In the case of the Fe catalyst, selective HCOOH production occurs at low overpotential. Sustained catalytic activity over long periods of time and high turnover numbers were observed in both cases. A catalytic mechanism is suggested on the basis of experimental results and preliminary quantum chemistry calculations.

Recent developments in (photo)electrochemical CO2 reduction combining Fe, Ni, and Co molecular complexes and (semi)conductive materials have led to high catalytic performances.

The design of highly efficient and selective photocatalytic systems for CO2 reduction that are based on nonexpensive materials is a great challenge for chemists. The photocatalytic reduction of CO2 by [Co(qpy)(OH2)2](2+) (1) (qpy = 2,2':6',2″:6″,2‴-quaterpyridine) and [Fe(qpy)(OH2)2](2+) (2) have been investigated. With Ru(bpy)3(2+) as the photosensitizer and 1,3-dimethyl-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazole as the sacrificial reductant in CH3CN/triethanolamine solution under visible-light excitation (blue light-emitting diode), a turnover number (TON) for CO as high as 2660 with 98% selectivity can be achieved for the cobalt catalyst. In the case of the iron catalyst, the TON was >3000 with up to 95% selectivity. More significantly, when Ru(bpy)3(2+) was replaced by the organic dye sensitizer purpurin, TONs of 790 and 1365 were achieved in N,N-dimethylformamide for the cobalt and iron catalysts, respectively.

M II (qpy)(H 2 O) 2 ] 2+ (M = Fe, Co; qpy: 2,2′:6′,2″:6″,2‴-quaterpyridine) complexes efficiently catalyze the electrochemical CO 2 -to-CO conversion in acetonitrile solution in the presence of weak Bronsted acids. Upon performing cyclic voltammetry studies, controlled-potential electrolysis, and spectroelectrochemistry (UV−visible and infrared) experiments together with DFT calculations, catalytic mechanisms were deciphered. Catalysis is characterized by high selectivity for CO production (selectivity >95%) in the presence of phenol as proton source. Overpotentials as low as 240 and 140 mV for the Fe and Co complexes, respectively, led to large CO production for several hours. In the former case, the one-electron-reduced species binds to CO 2 , and CO evolution is observed after further reduction of the intermediate adduct. A deactivation pathway has been identified, which is due to the formation of a Fe 0 qpyCO species. With the Co catalyst, no such deactivation occurs, and the doubly reduced complex activates CO 2 . High scan rate cyclic voltammetry allows reaching kinetic conditions, leading to scan-rate-independent plateau-shaped voltammograms from which catalytic rate constant was obtained. The molecular catalyst is very active for CO production (turnover a frequency of 3.3 × 10 4 s −1 at 0.3 V overpotential), as confirmed by catalytic a Tafel plot showing a comparison with previous catalysts.

Electrochemical investigation of a boron-capped tris(glyoximato)cobalt clathrochelate complex in the presence of acid reveals that the catalytic activity toward hydrogen evolution results from an electrodeposition of cobalt-containing nanoparticles on the electrode surface at a modest cathodic potential. The deposited particles act as remarkably active catalysts for H(2) production in water at pH 7.

The compound [Mn(III)(2)OL(2)](ClO(4))(2).2.23CHCl(3).0.65CH(2)Cl(2) where L(-) is the monoanionic N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N'-salicyliden-1,2-diaminoethane ligand, has been synthesized. The complex dication [Mn(III)(2)OL(2)](2+) contains a linear Mn(III)-O-Mn(III) unit with a Mn-Mn distance of 3.516 Å. The pentadentate ligand L(-) wraps around the Mn(III) ion. Electrochemically, it is possible to prepare the one electron oxidized trication [Mn(2)OL(2)](3+) which crystallizes as [Mn(2)OL(2)](ClO(4))(2.37)(PF(6))(0.63).1.5CH(3)CN. The complex trication [Mn(2)OL(2)](3+) contains a Mn(III)-O-Mn(IV) unit with a Mn-Mn distance of 3.524 Å and a Mn-O-Mn angle of 178.7(2) degrees. The contraction of the coordination sphere around the Mn(IV) is clearly observed. The [Mn(2)OL(2)](2+) dication possesses a S = 0 electronic ground state with J = -216 cm(-)(1) (H = -JS(1)().S(2)()), whereas the [Mn(2)OL(2)](3+) trication shows a S = (1)/(2) ground state with J = -353 cm(-)(1). The UV-visible spectrum of [Mn(2)OL(2)](3+) exhibits an intense absorption band (epsilon = 3040 M(-)(1) cm(-)(1)) centered at 570 nm assigned to a phenolate --> Mn(IV) charge-transfer transition. The potentials of the redox couples determined by cyclic voltammetry are E degrees ([Mn(2)OL(2)](3+)/[Mn(2)OL(2)](2+)) = 0.54 V/saturated calomel electrode (SCE) and E degrees ([Mn(2)OL(2)](4+)/[Mn(2)OL(2)](3+)) = 0.99 V/SCE. Upon oxidation at 1.3 V/SCE, the band at 570 nm shifts to 710 nm (epsilon = 2500 M(-)(1) cm(-)(1)) and a well-defined band appears at 400 nm which suggests the formation of a phenoxyl radical. The [Mn(2)OL(2)](3+)( )()complex exhibits a 18-line X-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum which has been simulated with rhombic tensors |A(1)(x)()| = 160 x 10(-)(4) cm(-)(1); |A(1)(y)()| = 130 x 10(-)(4) cm(-)(1); |A(1)(z)()| = 91 x 10(-)(4) cm(-)(1); |A(2)(x)()| = 62 x 10(-)(4) cm(-)(1); |A(2)(y)()| = 59 x 10(-)(4) cm(-)(1); |A(2)(z)()| = 62 x 10(-)(4) cm(-)(1) and g(x)() = 2.006; g(y)() = 1.997; g(z)() = 1.982. This EPR spectrum( )()shows that the 16-line paradigm related to a large antiferromagnetic exchange coupling and a low anisotropy can be overcome by a large rhombic anisotropy. Molecular orbital calculations relate this rhombicity to the nature of the orbital describing the extra electron on Mn(III). This orbital has a majority but not pure d(z)()2 contribution (with the z axis perpendicular to the Mn-Mn axis). Low-temperature resonance Raman spectroscopy on an acetonitrile solution of [Mn(2)OL(2)](4+) prepared at -35 degrees C indicated the formation of a phenoxyl radical. This suggests that the ligand was oxidized rather than the Mn(III)Mn(IV) pair to Mn(IV)Mn(IV), which illustrates the difficulty to store a second positive charge in a short range of potential in a manganese mono-&mgr;-oxo pair. The relevance of these results to the study of the photosynthetic oxygen evolving complex is discussed.

Two Mn(II) complexes are isolated and X-ray characterized, namely, cis-[(L(2))Mn(II)(Cl)(2)] (1) and [(L(3))Mn(II)Cl(OH(2))](ClO(4)) (2(ClO(4))), where L(2) and L(3) are the well-known tetradentate N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine and N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)propane-1,3-diamine ligands, respectively. The crystal structure reveals that whereas the ligand L(2) is in the cis-alpha conformation in complex 1, the ligand L(3) is in the more unusual cis-beta conformation in 2. EPR spectra are recorded on frozen solutions for both complexes and are characteristic of Mn(II) species. Electrochemical behaviors are investigated on acetonitrile solution for both complexes and show that cation 2 exists as closely related Mn(II) species in equilibrium. For both complexes exhaustive bulk electrolyses of acetonitrile solution are performed at oxidative potential in various experimental conditions. In the presence of 2,6-lutidine and after elimination of chloride ligands, the formation of the di-mu-oxo mixed-valent complexes [(L(2))Mn(III)(mu-O)(2)Mn(IV)(L(2))](3+) (3a) and [(L(3))Mn(III)(mu-O)(2)Mn(IV)(L(3))](3+) (4) is confirmed by UV-vis and EPR spectroscopies and cyclic voltammetry. In addition crystals of 4(ClO(4))(3) were isolated, and the X-ray structure reveals the cis-alphaconformation of L(3). In the absence of 2,6-lutidine and without elimination of the exogenous chloride ions, the electrochemical oxidation of 1 leads to the formation of the mononuclear Mn(III) complex, namely, [(L(2))Mn(III)(Cl)(2)](+) (5), as confirmed by UV-vis as well as parallel mode EPR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. In the same conditions, the electrochemical oxidation of complex 2 is more intricate, and a thorough analysis of EPR spectra establishes the formation of the binuclear mono-mu-oxo mixed-valent [(L(3))ClMn(III)(mu-O)Mn(IV)Cl(L(3))](3+) (6) complexes. Electrochemical conversion of Mn(II) complexes into mixed-valent Mn(2)(III,IV) oxo-bridged complexes in the presence of 2,6-lutidine is discussed. The role of the chloride ligands as well as that of L(3) in the building of oxo bridges is discussed. Differences in behavior between L(2) and L(3) are commented on.

Two structurally homologous Mn compounds in different oxidation states were studied to investigate the relative influence of oxidation state and ligand environment on Mn K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and Mn Kbeta X-ray emission spectroscopy (Kbeta XES). The two manganese compounds are the di-mu-oxo compound [L'2Mn(III)O2Mn(IV)L'2](ClO4)3, where L' is 1,10-phenanthroline (Cooper, S. R.; Calvin, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1977, 99, 6623-6630) and the linear mono-mu-oxo compound [LMn(III)OMn(III)L](ClO4)2, where L- is the monoanionic N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N'-salicylidene-1,2-diaminoethane ligand (Horner, O.; Anxolabéhère-Mallart, E.; Charlot, M. F.; Tchertanov, L.; Guilhem, J.; Mattioli, T. A.; Boussac, A.; Girerd, J.-J. Inorg. Chem. 1999, 38, 1222-1232). Preparative bulk electrolysis in acetonitrile was used to obtain higher oxidation states of the compounds: the Mn(IV)Mn(IV) species for the di-mu-oxo compound and the Mn(III)Mn(IV) and Mn(IV)Mn(IV) species for the mono-mu-oxo compound. IR, UV/vis, EPR, and EXAFS spectra were used to determine the purity and integrity of the various sample solutions. The Mn K-edge XANES spectra shift to higher energy upon oxidation when the ligand environment remains similar. However, shifts in energy are also observed when only the ligand environment is altered. This is achieved by comparing the di-mu-oxo and linear mono-mu-oxo Mn-Mn moieties in equivalent oxidation states, which represent major structural changes. The magnitude of an energy shift due to major changes in ligand environment can be as large as that of an oxidation-state change. Therefore, care must be exercised when correlating the Mn K-edge energies to manganese oxidation states without taking into account the nature of the ligand environment and the overall structure of the compound. In contrast to Mn K-edge XANES, Kbeta XES spectra show less dependence on ligand environment. The Kbeta1,3 peak energies are comparable for the di-mu-oxo and mono-mu-oxo compounds in equivalent oxidation states. The energy shifts observed due to oxidation are also similar for the two different compounds. The study of the different behavior of the XANES pre-edge and main-edge features in conjunction with Kbeta XES provides significant information about the oxidation state and character of the ligand environment of manganese atoms.