Mechanical and Covalent Tailoring of Copper Catenanes for Selective Aqueous Nitrate-to-Ammonia Electrocatalysis

Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO₃RR) for the selective generation of ammonia (NH₃) enables the removal of deleterious nitrate pollutants while simultaneously upcycling them into a value-added fertilizer. The development of nonprecious metal-derived catalysts such as those featuring copper (Cu) as earth-abundant alternatives for the state-of-the-art precious metal catalysts is of urgent need yet suffering from the activity-selectivity-durability trilemma. Rational design of molecular Cu complexes with well-defined coordination structures permitting systematic structure-activity relationship (SAR) investigations is key to addressing the challenge. Here, a series of molecular Cu(I) complexes with [2]catenane ligands are developed as NO₃RR electrocatalysts for the first time. By engineering multiple cationic ammoniums on the catenane backbone, acceptance of the anionic nitrate substrate as well as the release of the cationic ammonium product are promoted, thereby facilitating a higher Faradaic efficiency and product selectivity toward ammonia via an 8e^- pathway. Of note, the mutual Coulombic repulsion between the multiply charged ligands is overcome by the mechanical interlocking such that the catalyst integrity can be maintained under practical conditions. This report highlights the promise of employing mechanically interlocked ligands as a platform for customizing metal complexes as catalysts for redox processes involving multiple proton-coupled electron transfer steps.