Proton-Coupled Oxygen Reduction at Liquid-Liquid Interfaces Catalyzed by Cobalt Porphine

Cobalt porphine (COP) dissolved in the organic phase of a biphasic system is used to catalyze O-2 reduction by an electron donor, ferrocene (Fc). Using voltammetry at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES), it is possible to drive this catalytic reduction at the interface as a function of the applied potential difference, where aqueous protons and organic electron donors combine to reduce O-2. The current signal observed corresponds to a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reaction, as no current and no reaction can be observed in the absence of either the aqueous acid, COP, c, or O-2.