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The complex, [{[Mn(bpy)(CO) 3 ] 2 }(μ-CN)] + (Mn2CN+), has previously been shown to photochemically reduce CO 2 to CO. The detailed mechanism behind its reactivity was not elucidated. Herein, the photoevolution of this reaction is studied in acetonitrile (MeCN) using IR and UV-vis spectroscopy. Samples were excited into the Mn I → π* bpy metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorption band triggering CO loss, and rapid MeCN solvent ligation at the open coordination site. It is concluded that this process occurs selectively at the Mn axial ligation site that is trans to the C-end of the bridging cyanide. Upon further photolysis, the metal–metal bonded dimeric species, [(CO) 3 (bpy)Mn–Mn(bpy)(CO) 3 ] (Mn–Mn) is observed to form under anaerobic conditions. The presence of this dimeric species coincides with the observation of CO production. When oxygen is present, CO 2 photoreduction does not occur, which is attributed to the inability of Mn2CN+ to convert to the metal–metal bonded dimer. Photolysis experiments, where the Mn–Mn dimer is formed photochemically under argon first and then exposed to CO 2 , reveal that it is the radical species, [Mn(bpy)(CO) 3 ˙ ] ( Mn˙ ), that interacts with the CO 2 . Since the presence of Mn–Mn and light is required for CO production, [Mn(bpy)(CO) 3 ˙] is proposed to be a photochemical reagent for the transformation of CO 2 to CO. 

[Mn(bpy)(CO) 3 Br] is recognized as a benchmark electrocatalyst for CO 2 reduction to CO, with the doubly reduced [Mn(bpy)(CO) 3 ] − proposed to be the active species in the catalytic mechanism. The reaction of this intermediate with CO 2 and two protons is expected to produce the tetracarbonyl cation, [Mn(bpy)(CO) 4 ] + , thereby closing the catalytic cycle. However, this species has not been experimentally observed. In this study, [Mn(bpy)(CO) 4 ][SbF 6 ] ( 1 ) was directly synthesized and found to be an efficient electrocatalyst for the reduction of CO 2 to CO in the presence of H 2 O. Complex 1 was characterized using X-ray crystallography as well as IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The redox activity of 1 was determined using cyclic voltammetry and compared with that of benchmark manganese complexes, e.g. , [Mn(bpy)(CO) 3 Br] ( 2 ) and [Mn(bpy)(CO) 3 (MeCN)][PF 6 ] ( 3 ). Infrared spectroscopic analyses indicated that CO dissociation occurs after a single-electron reduction of complex 1 , producing a [Mn(bpy)(CO) 3 (MeCN)] + species. Complex 1 was experimentally verified as both a precatalyst and an on-cycle intermediate in homogeneous Mn-based electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction. 

Manganese( i ) tricarbonyl complexes such as [Mn(bpy)(CO) 3 L] (L = Br, or CN) are known to be electrocatalysts for CO 2 reduction to CO. However, due to their rapid photodegradation under UV and visible light, these monomeric manganese complexes have not been considered as photocatalysts for CO 2 reduction without the use of a photosensitizer. In this paper, we report a cyanide-bridged di-manganese complex, {[Mn(bpy)(CO) 3 ] 2 (μ-CN)}ClO 4 , which is both electrocatalytic and photochemically active for CO 2 reduction to CO. Compared to the [Mn(bpy)(CO) 3 CN] electrocatalyst, our CN-bridged binuclear complex is a more efficient electrocatalyst for CO 2 reduction using H 2 O as a proton source. In addition, we report a photochemical CO 2 reduction to CO using the dimanganese complex under 395 nm irradiation.