Dinaphthotetraaza[14]annulene copper(II) complexes in the electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide and bisulfite anion

A modified synthetic route for the complexes [Cu(II)5,7,12,14-tetramethyldinaphtho [b,i][1,4,8,11]tetraaza[14]annulene], [Cu(II)tmdnTAA], and [Cu(II) 5,7,12,14-tetramethyl-6,13-dichloro-dinaphtho[b,i][1,4,8,11]tetraaza[14]annulene], [Cu(II)dCltmdnTAA], is presented in this work. The electrochemical characterization of both complexes and their precursors, [bis(2,4-pentanedionato)copper(II)], [Cu(II)(acac)2] and [bis(3-chloro-2,4-pentanedionato)copper(II)], [Cu(II)(3-Cl-acac)2], respectively, under nitrogen and carbon dioxide is also presented. The voltammetric response of [Cu(II)(acac)2] and [Cu(II)(3-Cl-acac)2] are different compared to [Cu(II)tmdnTAA] and [Cu(II)dCltmdnTAA] under nitrogen. Precursors show the reduction of Cu(I) to Cu(0) and the tetraazadinaphtho[14]annulene complexes do not. The chlorine substituted complex has a lower reduction potential than the unsubstituted homologue under nitrogen atmosphere. However, the contrary response is obtained in the presence of carbon dioxide: the unsubstit...