Electrocatalytic reductive dimerization of the 2,2′-bipyridyl tungsten alkylidyne complex [W(CC6H4NMe2-4)(NCMe)(CO)2{κ2-2,2′-(NC5H4)2}]+

Reductive electrodimerization of the cationic tungsten alkylidyne complex [W(CC6H4NMe2-4)(NCMe)(CO)2{κ2-2,2′-(NC5H4)2}]+ has been observed by cyclic voltammetry measurements and verified by subsequent data analysis. The coupled product is deposited on the electrode and appears to act as an electrocatalyst in subsequent potential cycles. Experimental results are supported by DFT computational analysis, which indicates a 2,2′-bipyridyl-centered LUMO and surprisingly little contribution from the MeCN ligand to the frontier HOMOs.