N-Confused Porphyrin as a Highly Active Ligand Scaffold for Molecular Catalysts of CO₂ Reduction

Key to CO₂ reduction transformation is the development of catalysts that efficiently activate inert CO₂ molecules, enabling rapid reaction kinetics with minimal energy inputs. In this study, we introduce N-confused porphyrin (NCP) as a highly active ligand scaffold for transition metal-based catalysts in CO₂ reduction reactions. By breaking the D_4h symmetry inherent in conventional porphyrin structures, NCP promotes enhanced electron delocalization around corresponding metal complex, improving the catalytic efficiency. A comprehensive study demonstrates that NCP-based metal complexes (Fe, Co, and Ni) significantly outperform their parent metal-porphyrin counterparts. These results provide new insights into the design of more effective catalysts for CO₂ reduction.