Facilitated carbon dioxide reduction using a Zn(II) complex

Two new Zn(II) complexes have been prepared and evaluated for their capacity to activate and reduce CO2. The electrochemical properties of dichloro[phenyldi(2-pyridyl)phosphine-κ2-N,N′]zinc(II) 1 and dichloro[diphenyl-(2-pyridyl)phosphine-κ1-N]zinc(II) 2 are compared using cyclic voltammetry. Electrochemical results indicate that 2 leads to a facilitated CO2 reduction to evolve CO at a glassy carbon electrode.