Visible‐Light Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2 to Formic Acid with a Ru Catalyst Supported by N,N′‐Bis(diphenylphosphino)‐2,6‐diaminopyridine Ligands

Abstract Visible‐light photocatalytic CO 2 reduction is carried out by using a Ru II complex supported by N , N ′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐2,6‐diaminopyridine (“PNP”) ligands, an unprecedented molecular architecture for this reaction that breaks the longstanding domination of α‐diimine ligands. These competent catalysts transform CO 2 into formic acid with high selectivity and turnover number. A proposed mechanism, with combined electron transfer and catalytic cycles, models the experimental rate of formic acid production.