Nitrite reduction by copper complexes

Dalton Trans. 2010 Feb 14;39(6):1576-85. doi: 10.1039/b913463h. Epub 2009 Nov 5.

Abstract

A series of copper complexes have been synthesised as potential agents for the catalytic reduction of nitrite anions. The ligands and corresponding copper complexes have been characterised by using a range of techniques including X-ray crystallography, NMR, microanalysis, mass spectrometry, infra-red spectroscopy, electrochemical studies and density functional theory calculations. For complexes with simple aliphatic substituents bonded to the equatorial donor nitrogen atoms, catalytic studies on the conversion of NO(2)(-) anions into NO and N(2)O gases revealed an excellent correlation between the initial rate of conversion and the experimental reduction potential as measured by cyclic voltammetry. Initial catalytic investigations reveal that these simple model complexes display a wide range of catalytic turnover rates, conversion yields and product gas compositions. Overall the results suggest that further investigations into the design and use of copper complexes as nitrite reduction catalysts are warranted.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Coordination Complexes / chemical synthesis
  • Coordination Complexes / chemistry*
  • Copper / chemistry*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nitrites / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction

Substances

  • Coordination Complexes
  • Nitrites
  • Copper