Electrocatalytic generation of H2 from neutral water in acetonitrile using manganese polypyridyl complexes with ligand assistance

Abstract

A Mn(i) tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine complex fac-[Mn(κ3-tpa) (CO)3]+OTf- carries out electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution from neutral water in acetonitrile. Bulk electrocatalytic studies showed that the catalyst functions with a moderate Faradaic efficiency and turn over frequency. DFT computations support the role of the tpa ligand as a shuttle to transfer of protons to the metal center.