Catalysis and Inhibition in the Electrochemical Reduction of CO on Platinum in the Presence of Protonated Pyridine. New Insights into Mechanisms and Products.

In the framework of modern energy challenges, the reduction of CO into fuels calls for electrogenerated low-valent transition metal complexes catalysts designed with considerable ingenuity and sophistication. For this reason, the report that a molecule as simple as protonated pyridine (PyH) could catalyze the formation of methanol from the reduction of CO on a platinum electrode triggered great interest and excitement. Further investigations revealed that no methanol is produced.