Electrochemical Formation of Metal Based Redox Agents Using Water
Session Number
1
Advisor(s)
Aaron H. Shoemaker, Bryan M. Hunter, Northwestern University
Location
A149
Discipline
Chemistry
Start Date
15-4-2026 10:15 AM
End Date
15-4-2026 11:00 AM
Abstract
As an abundant and inert input, water remains a north star of green chemistry. Our research leverages water and green energy inputs (electricity), via cyclic voltammetry, to renewably and sustainably form metal-based reduction and oxidation agents. The reduction agent formed is the cobalt hydride (Co1+–H1- ) species of Cobalt(dppv)2(BF4)2 (dppv = diphenylphosphinovinyl). This species is markedly different from the Co3+–H1 that currently dominates the literature. The oxidation agent being formed is the osmium hydroxide (Os5+–O2-H 1+ ) species of Os(O)2(CN)2( tBu-bpy) (bpy = bipyridine). This cobalt hydride species is anticipated to catalyze olefin hydrogenation, which is the saturation of carbon-carbon double bonds with hydrogen, whereas the osmium hydroxide species is expected to catalyze carbon-hydrogen bond functionalization reactions, or the replacement of a hydrogen with a different functional group. Both of these reactions are extremely important in industrial applications. The difference in behavior between the hydrogens in these two species comes from the charges: negatively charged drives hydride reduction and the positively charged hydrogen in the hydroxide drives oxidation
Electrochemical Formation of Metal Based Redox Agents Using Water
A149
As an abundant and inert input, water remains a north star of green chemistry. Our research leverages water and green energy inputs (electricity), via cyclic voltammetry, to renewably and sustainably form metal-based reduction and oxidation agents. The reduction agent formed is the cobalt hydride (Co1+–H1- ) species of Cobalt(dppv)2(BF4)2 (dppv = diphenylphosphinovinyl). This species is markedly different from the Co3+–H1 that currently dominates the literature. The oxidation agent being formed is the osmium hydroxide (Os5+–O2-H 1+ ) species of Os(O)2(CN)2( tBu-bpy) (bpy = bipyridine). This cobalt hydride species is anticipated to catalyze olefin hydrogenation, which is the saturation of carbon-carbon double bonds with hydrogen, whereas the osmium hydroxide species is expected to catalyze carbon-hydrogen bond functionalization reactions, or the replacement of a hydrogen with a different functional group. Both of these reactions are extremely important in industrial applications. The difference in behavior between the hydrogens in these two species comes from the charges: negatively charged drives hydride reduction and the positively charged hydrogen in the hydroxide drives oxidation