Electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 for the selective carboxylation of olefins

Abstract

Electroreduction of [CpFe(CO) 2 ] 2 (Fp 2 ) in the presence of carbon dioxide makes possible the formation of the 1:1 adduct [Cp(CO) 2 Fe-CO 2 ] - , which is catalytically reduced at -1.8 V vs SCE liberating [Cp(CO) 2 Fe] and CO 2 .- . The generation of CO 2 .- at a potential close to the standard value allows regioselective carboxylation of styrene and isoprene with turnover number of 200 per Fp 2 . The first step of the carboxylation appears to be the addition of CO 2 to the unsubstituted carbon atoms of the olefin.