Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Reactions Catalysed by 3d Metal Complexes

Abstract

Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions are essential for a wide range of natural energy-conversion reactions and recently, the impact of PCET pathways has been exploited in artificial systems, too. The Minireview highlights PCET reactions catalysed by first-row transition-metal complexes, with a focus on the water oxidation, the oxygen reduction, the hydrogen evolution, and the CO2 reduction reaction. Special attention will be paid to systems in which the impact of such pathways is deduced by comparison to systems with electron-only-transfer pathways.