Ambiguous electrocatalytic CO2 reduction behaviour of a nickel bis(aldimino)pyridine pincer complex

The electrochemical properties of two Ni(NNN)X2 pincer complexes are reported where X = Cl or Br and NNN is N,N′-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)bis-aldiminopyridine. Cyclic voltammetry under 1 atm of CO2 suggests electrocatalytic CO2 reduction activity, however, bulk electrolysis shows a poor Faradaic efficiency for CO evolution with a high Faradaic yield for H2 evolution.