Competition between electrocatalytic CO2 reduction and H+ reduction by Cu(II), Co(II) complexes containing redox-active ligand

A benzimidazole derivative ligand (L1) and its corresponding transition metal complexes ML1Cl2 (M = Cu (1), Co (2)) have beensynthesizedandcrystallized. Complexes ML1Cl2 can catalyze CO2 reduction and H2 evolution, arising from the cooperative catalytic effect of metal and radical ligand.