Photocatalytic turnover of CO(2) under visible light by [Re(CO)(3)(1-(1,10) phenanthroline-5-(4-nitro-naphthalimide))Cl] in tandem with the sacrificial donor BIH

Optimized photocatalytic conversion of CO(2) requires new potent catalysts that can absorb visible light. The photocatalytic reduction of CO(2) using rhenium(i) has been demonstrated but suffers from low turnover. Herein, we describe a [Re(CO)(3)(1-(1,10)phenanthroline-5-(4-nitro-naphthalimide))Cl] photocatalyst, which when combined with the sacrificial donor 1,3-dimethyl-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazole, results in selective production of formic acid and a high turnover number of 533 and turnover frequency of 356 h(−1). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction and DFT studies are also discussed.