Highly active and selective photochemical reduction of CO2 to CO using molecular-defined cyclopentadienone iron complexes.

Herein, we report highly active (cyclopentadienone)iron-tricarbonyl complexes for CO2 photoreduction using visible light with an Ir complex as photosensitizer and TEOA as electron/proton donor. Turnover numbers (TON) of ca. 600 (1 h) with initial turnover frequencies (TOF) up to 22.2 min(-1) were observed. Operando FTIR measurements allowed for the proposal of a plausible mechanism for catalyst activation.