Abstract/Summary

The new, formally Mo(II) complexes [Mo(η3-2-R-allyl)(6,6′-dmbipy)(CO)2Cl] (6,6′-dmbipy = 6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine; 2-R-allyl = allyl for R = H, 2-methallyl for R = CH3) and [Mo(η3-2-methallyl)(pTol-bian)(CO)2Cl] (pTol-bian = bis(p-tolylimino)acenaphthene) share, in this rare case, the same structural type. The effect of the anionic π-donor ligand X (Cl– vs NCS–) and the 2-R-allyl substituents on the cathodic behavior was explored. Both ligands play a significant role at all stages of the reduction path. While 2e–-reduced [Mo(η3-allyl)(6,6′-dmbipy)(CO)2]− is inert when it is ECE-generated from [Mo(η3-allyl)(6,6′-dmbipy)(CO)2(NCS)], the Cl– ligand promotes Mo–Mo dimerization by facilitating the nucleophilic attack of [Mo(η3-allyl)(6,6′-dmbipy)(CO)2]− at the parent complex at ambient temperature. The replacement of the allyl ligand by 2-methallyl has a similar effect. The Cl–/2-methallyl ligand assembly destabilizes even primary radical anions of the complex containing the strongly π-accepting pTol-Bian ligand. Under argon, the cathodic paths of [Mo(η3-2-R-allyl)(6,6′-dmbipy)(CO)2Cl] terminate at ambient temperature with 5-coordinate [Mo(6,6′-dmbipy)(CO)3]2– instead of [Mo(η3-2-R-allyl)(6,6′-dmbipy)(CO)2]−, which is stabilized in chilled electrolyte. [Mo(η3-allyl)(6,6′-dmbipy)(CO)2]− catalyzes CO2 reduction only when it is generated at the second cathodic wave of the parent complex, while [Mo(η3-2-methallyl)(6,6′-dmbipy)(CO)2]− is already moderately active at the first cathodic wave. This behavior is fully consistent with absent dimerization under argon on the cyclic voltammetric time scale. The electrocatalytic generation of CO and formate is hampered by the irreversible formation of anionic tricarbonyl complexes replacing reactive [Mo(η3-2-methallyl)(6,6′-dmbipy)(CO)2]2 along the cathodic route.