Monomer and dimer pathways of earth-abundant manganese tricarbonyl pre-catalysts for CO₂ reduction studied by time-resolved IR spectroscopy.

ABSTRACT: The activation mechanism of Mn-based molecular catalysts is reported in a three-component system (photosensitizer, electron donor, catalyst), investigated by time-resolved infrared spectroscopy. In total four complexes were studied that are derived from Mn(2,2'-bipyridine)(CO)₃Br by varying substituents on the ligand, which impose steric constraints or modulate electronic properties. Thereby, ligand effects on catalyst activation pathways are systematically assessed. A unified feature across all systems is that the intermediate after one-electron reduction and subsequent Br^- dissociation, i.e., Mn⁰(L)(CO)₃, possesses a more positive reduction potential than the parent complex, leading to its rapid second reduction. This step outcompetes di

SUBMITTER: Tatarashvili L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12767779 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature