N‐Confused Porphyrin as a Highly Active Ligand Scaffold for Molecular Catalysts of CO2 Reduction

Abstract Key to CO 2 reduction transformation is the development of catalysts that efficiently activate inert CO 2 molecules, enabling rapid reaction kinetics with minimal energy inputs. In this study, we introduce N‐confused porphyrin (NCP) as a highly active ligand scaffold for transition metal‐based catalysts in CO 2 reduction reactions. By breaking the D 4h symmetry inherent in conventional porphyrin structures, NCP promotes enhanced electron delocalization around corresponding metal complex, improving the catalytic efficiency. A comprehensive study demonstrates that NCP‐based metal complexes (Fe, Co, and Ni) significantly outperform their parent metal‐porphyrin counterparts. These results provide new insights into the design of more effective catalysts for CO 2 reduction.