Electrochemical reduction of CO 2 catalyzed by a triangular rhodium complex [(RhC p*) 3 (μ 3-S) 2] 2+ selectively produced formate and oxalate in the presence of Bu 4 NBF 4 and LiBF 4, respectively, under the controlled potential electrolysis at− 1.50 V (vs. SCE) in CO 2- saturated CH 3 CN. A solution IR spectrum evidenced the adduct formation between [(RhC p*) 3 (μ 3-S) 2] 0 and CO 2 as the possible precursor for the oxalate formation.
[Grills, David C.; Farrington, Jaime A.; Layne, Bobby H.; Lymar, Sergei V.; Mello, Barbara A.; Preses, Jack M.; Wishart, James F. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2014 , vol. 136, # 15 p. 5563 - 5566]
