Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2025

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
Mimicking the CO2-Bound State of the [Ni,Fe]-CO Dehydrogenase
Siad Wolff1, Arne Hofmann1, Konstantin B Krause1
1Institut für Chemie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Straße 2, 12489, Berlin, Germany.
Abstract:
Complexes, where a doubly reduced CO2 2- (carbonite) ligand is spanned between a nickel(II) centre and a transition metal(II) ion (TM=Fe, Co, Zn) have been accessed. In non-coordinating solvents the carbonite ligand exhibits a flexible coordination behaviour as observed by NMR spectroscopy and supported by DFT calculations. In particular the [Ni-CO2-Fe] representative replicates the respective entity in an intermediate formed during CO2-conversion by the enzyme [Ni,Fe]-CODH in many ways (structure, spectroscopic properties, reactivity). Our investigations reveal that transition metal ions reduce the reduction potential of the carbonite unit but increase its tendency to undergo C-O bond cleavage. This may explain the choice of an iron(II) ion instead of a s- or p-block-based Lewis acid as part of the active site.
Related Concept Videos
Cofactors and Coenzymes
Cofactors can be metallic ions or organic molecules called coenzymes. These types of helper...
Role of Reduced Coenzymes NADH and FADH₂
Cooperative Allosteric Transitions
Electron Carriers
Over the many stages of cellular respiration, glucose breaks down into carbon dioxide and water. Electron carriers pick up electrons lost by glucose in these reactions, temporarily storing and releasing them into the electron...
Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
Carbon-dioxide Fixation

![Protein Film Infrared Electrochemistry Demonstrated for Study of H2 Oxidation by a [NiFe] Hydrogenase](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F55858.jpg&w=3840&q=50)