Fast Proton Transfer and Hydrogen Evolution Reactivity Mediated by [Co 13 C 2 (CO) 24 ] 4–
A common approach to speeding up proton transfer (PT) by molecular catalysts is manipulation of the secondary coordina-tion sphere with proton relays and these enhance overall reaction rates by orders of magnitude. In contrast, heterogenous electrocatalysts have band structures that promote facile PT concerted with electron transfer (ET), known as the Volmer mechanism. Here in this paper, we show that [Co 13 C 2 (CO) 24 ] 4– , containing multiple Co-Co bonds to statistically enhance observed rates of PT, promotes PT on the order of 2.3 × 10 9 M -1 s -1 which suggests a diffusion-limited rate. The fast ET and PT chemistry is at-tributed to the delocalized electronic structure of [Co 13 C 2 (CO) 24 ] 4– . Electrochemical characterization of [Co 13 C 2 (CO) 24 ] 4– in the presence and absence of protons reveals ET kinetics and diffusion behavior similar to other small clusters such as nano-materials and fullerenes.