Phys.org June 12, 2024
The selective electrocatalytic hydrogenation of organics with transition metal hydrides is a promising strategy for electrosynthesis and energy storage. Researchers at Stanford University reported the electrocatalytic hydrogenation of acetone with a cyclopentadienone-iridium complex in a tandem electrocatalytic cycle with a cobaltocene mediator. The reductive protonation of cobaltocenium with mild acids generated (C5H5)CoI(C5H6) (CpCoI(CpH)), which functioned as an electrocatalytic hydride mediator to deliver a hydride to cationic Ir(III) without generating hydrogen. Electrocatalytic hydride transfer by CpCoI(CpH) to a cationic Ir species led to the efficient electrohydrogenation of acetone. According to the researchers hydride–transfer mediation presents a powerful strategy to generate metal hydrides that are inaccessible by stepwise electron/proton transfer… read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Graphical abstract. Credit: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, XXXX, XXX, XXX-XXX, June 12, 2024