Manganese(I) complex as an electrocatalyst for CO2 reduction reaction

This work reports the synthesis, characterization, and preliminary electrocatalytic evaluation of a manganese(I) complex, [Mn(CO)₃(bpma)]Br, featuring the bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (bpma) ligand for the electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR). The complex was synthesized from Mn(CO)₅Br and characterized using NMR, UV-Vis, FTIR, elemental analysis, and cyclic voltammetry. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed a facial arrangement of the carbonyl ligands (νCO at 2034 and 1937-1912 cm⁻¹⁾. Electrochemical studies identified distinct redox couples corresponding to Mn(I)/Mn(II), Mn(II)/Mn(III), and Mn(I)/Mn(0) processes. Linear sweep voltammetry in NaHCO₃ revealed a clear current enhancement under catalytic conditions, indicating the complex's activity toward CO₂ reduction. Ongoing studies are focused on product identification, Faradaic efficiency, and elucidating the reaction mechanism.