Daniel J. Dooley1, J. Faye Rubinson1, and Richard Hotz2. (1) Georgetown University, Washington, DC, (2) College of Mount St. Joseph
Dibenzotetraaza[14]annulenes (DBTAAs) have the potential for application in a variety of fields, including catalysis and chromatography. These macrocyclic ligands are characterized by their ability to effectively bind transition metals, making them useful candidates for electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide. Platinum electrodes coated with a polymer of the Me2[(p-t-butyl)Ph]2N4-Co complex have been created using cyclic voltammetry in acetonitrile, facilitated in some trials by copolymerization with poly-3-methylthiophene. These modified electrodes were found to be effective catalysts for the reduction of carbon dioxide, as evidenced by differences in cyclic voltammetric behavior under nitrogen and under a carbon dioxide atmosphere at ambient temperature and pressure.