Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026

Reductive Electropolymerization of a Vinyl-containing Poly-pyridyl Complex on Glassy Carbon and Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide Electrodes
Published on: January 30, 2015
Electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO by polypyridyl ruthenium complexes
Zuofeng Chen1, Chuncheng Chen, David R Weinberg
1Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Abstract:
Electrocatalytic reduction of CO(2) by [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(solvent)](2+) (tpy = 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) and its structural analogs is initiated by sequential 1e(-) reductions at the tpy and bpy ligands followed by rate limiting CO(2) addition to give a metallocarboxylate intermediate. It undergoes further reduction and loss of CO.
Related Concept Videos
Heterogeneous Catalysis
Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Vicinal Diols via Reductive Coupling of Aldehydes or Ketones: Pinacol Coupling Overview
Electron Transport Chain: Complex III and IV
Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the surface of...

