NHC-containing manganese(I) electrocatalysts for the two-electron reduction of CO2.

The synthesis and characterization of the first catalytic manganese N-heterocyclic carbene complexes are reported: MnBr(N-methyl-N'-2-pyridylbenzimidazol-2-ylidine)(CO)3 and MnBr(N-methyl-N'-2-pyridylimidazol-2-ylidine)(CO)3. Both new species mediate the reduction of CO2 to CO following two-electron reduction of the Mn(I) center, as observed with preparative scale electrolysis and verified with (13)CO2. The two-electron reduction of these species occurs at a single potential, rather than in two sequential steps separated by hundreds of millivolts, as is the case for previously reported MnBr(2,2'-bipyridine)(CO)3. Catalytic current enhancement is observed at voltages similar to MnBr(2,2'-bipyridine)(CO)3.