Metal-free molecular catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction

Abstract

In a recent Journal of the American Chemical Society paper, Choudhury et al. report several pyridinic molecules, heterohelicenes, as homogeneous and metal-free catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction. The imidazolium-based cations and π-conjugated backbones of the heterohelicenes can stabilize the radical species during catalytic process and eventually boost the catalytic activity. In a recent Journal of the American Chemical Society paper, Choudhury et al. report several pyridinic molecules, heterohelicenes, as homogeneous and metal-free catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction. The imidazolium-based cations and π-conjugated backbones of the heterohelicenes can stabilize the radical species during catalytic process and eventually boost the catalytic activity.