2,2 '-Bipyridine(octacarbonyl)dirhenium(Re-Re)

In the title compound, [Re-2(C10H8N2)(CO)(8)], both Re atoms have distorted octahedral coordination geometry. The carbonyls of the Re(CO)(5) moiety ar e fully staggered relative to those of the Re(CO)(3) unit. We are currently interested in the application of Re-diimine complexes as catalysts for the photo- and electro-chemical reduction of CO2. The (2,2'-bipyridine)Re(CO)( 3). radical, a key intermediate in the [Cl(2,2'-bipyridine)Re(CO)(3)] catal ytic CO2 reduction cycle, is formed by Cl- loss from [Cl(2,2'-bipyridine)Re (CO)(3)](-). We synthesized the title compound as a precursor to the (2,2'- bipyridine)Re(CO)3. radical and so that we can examine the structural featu res of the (2,2'-bipyridine)Re(CO)(3) moiety following irradiation of the t itle compound.