A Nickel Phosphine Complex as a Fast and Efficient Hydrogen Production Catalyst

Ni(ii) complexes of the phosphine-oxime Ph2PC6H4-2-CH[double bond, length as m-dash]NOH

We report the solution and structural chemistry of nickel(ii) complexes of the phosphine-oxime Ph2PC6H4-2-CH[double bond, length as m-dash]NOH (PCH[double bond, length as m-dash]NOH). PCH[double bond, length as m-dash]NOH invariably binds in a bidentate manner as illustrated by cis-Ni(PCH[double bond, length as m-dash]NOH)2Cl2 and cis-[Ni(PCH[double bond, length as m-dash]NOH)2]2+ (as its BF4- salt). Treatment of PCH[double bond, length as m-dash]NOH with Ni(OAc)2(H2O)4 gave charge-neutral trans-[Ni(PCH[double bond, length as m-dash]NO)2]0. Treatment of trans-[Ni(PCH[double bond, length as m-dash]NO)2]0 with BF3 gave [Ni(PCH[double bond, length as m-dash]NO)2BF2]BF4. The cation features a planar NiP2N2 center wherein the pair of oximate groups are linked by the difluoroboryl center. The 1 : 1 complexes of the oxime and the oximate are illustrated by [Ni(PCH[double bond, length as m-dash]NOH)Cl2]2 and [Ni(C6F5)(PCH[double bond, length as m-dash]NO)]2, which feature five- and four-coordinate Ni(ii) centers, respectively. All complexes in this series hydrolyze to give the trinickel oxo-phosphine-oximate complex [Ni3(PCH[double bond, length as m-dash]NO)3O]+. One feature of the PCH[double bond, length as m-dash]NOH ligand is its wide bite angle combined with its protic OH center. These aspects are manifested in the structures of Ni(PCH[double bond, length as m-dash]NOH)2Cl2 and [Ni(PCH[double bond, length as m-dash]NOH)Cl2]2, which show intramolecular hydrogen bonding to terminal chloride ligands.

Activation of Co(I) State in a Cobalt-Dithiolato Catalyst for Selective and Efficient CO2 Reduction to CO

Reduction of CO₂ holds the key to solving two major challenges taunting the society-clean energy and clean environment. There is an urgent need for the development of efficient non-noble metal-based catalysts that can reduce CO₂ selectively and efficiently. Unfortunately, activation and reduction of CO₂ can only be achieved by highly reduced metal centers jeopardizing the energy efficiency of the process. A carbon monoxide dehydrogenase inspired Co complex bearing a dithiolato ligand can reduce CO₂, in wet acetonitrile, to CO with ∼95% selectivity over a wide potential range and 1559 s^-1 rate with a remarkably low overpotential of 70 mV. Unlike most of the transition-metal-based systems that require reduction of the metal to its formal zerovalent state for CO₂ reduction, this catalyst can reduce CO₂ in its formal +1 state making it substantially more energy efficient than any system known to show similar reactivity. While covalent donation from one thiolate increases electron density at the Co(I) center enabling it to activate CO₂, protonation of the bound thiolate, in the presence of H₂O as a proton source, plays a crucial role in lowering overpotential (thermodynamics) and ensuring facile proton transfer to the bound CO₂ ensuring facile (kinetics) reactivity. A very covalent Co(III)-C bond in a Co(III)-COOH intermediate is at the heart of selective protonation of the oxygen atoms to result in CO as the exclusive product of the reduction.

Ultrafast Energy Transfer in Dinuclear Complexes with Bridging 1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-Dithiolate

We report herein the preparation and characterization of dinuclear complexes with the bridging ligand 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dithiolate (phendt^2-) bearing Ru(bpy)₂ or Ir(ppy)₂ at the diimine moiety and Ni(dppe), Ni(dppf), CoCp, RhCp*, and Ru( p-Me-ⁱPr-benzene) at the dithiolate unit. In comparison with the mononuclear precursors used in the synthesis, all dinuclear complexes were characterized by absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy as well as cyclic voltammetry. Because of the beneficial spectral and electrochemical properties of the Ir/Co complex for a light-driven charge separation, this complex was investigated in detail by time-resolved luminescence {nanosecond (ns)-resolution} and transient absorption spectroscopy {femtosecond (fs)-resolution}. All measurements supported by DFT calculations show that the observed effective luminescence quenching by the dithiolate coordinated metal is caused by an ultrafast singlet-singlet Dexter energy transfer.

Redox-Active Metallodithiolene Groups Separated by Insulating Tetraphosphinobenzene Spacers

Compounds of the type [(S₂C₂R₂)M(μ-tpbz)M(S₂C₂R₂)] (R = CN, Me, Ph, p-anisyl; M = Ni, Pd, Pt; tpbz = 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(diphenylphosphino)benzene) have been prepared by transmetalation with [(S₂C₂R₂)SnR'₂] reagents, by direct displacement of dithiolene ligand from [M(S₂C₂R₂)₂] with 0.5 equiv of tpbz, or by salt metathesis using Na₂[S₂C₂(CN)₂] in conjunction with X₂M(μ-tpbz)MX₂ (X = halide). X-ray crystallography reveals a range of topologies (undulating, chair, bowed) for the (S₂C₂)M(P₂C₆P₂)M(S₂C₂) core. The [(S₂C₂R₂)M(μ-tpbz)M(S₂C₂R₂)] (R = Me, Ph, p-anisyl) compounds support reversible or quasireversible oxidations corresponding to concurrent oxidation of the dithiolene terminal ligands from ene-1,2-dithiolates to radical monoanions, forming [(^-S^•SC₂R₂)M(μ-tpbz)M(^-S^•SC₂R₂)]²⁺. The R = Ph and p-anisyl compounds support a second, reversible oxidation of the dithiolene ligands to their α-dithione form. In contrast, [(S₂C₂(CN)₂)Ni(tpbz)Ni(S₂C₂(CN)₂)] sustains only reversible, metal-centered reductions. Spectroscopic examination of [(^-S^•SC₂( p-anisyl)₂)Ni(μ-tpbz)Ni(^-S^•SC₂( p-anisyl)₂)]²⁺ by EPR reveals a near degenerate singlet-triplet ground state, with spectral simulation revealing a remarkably small dipolar coupling constant of 18 × 10^-4 cm^-1 that is representative of an interspin distance of 11.3 Å. This weak interaction is mediated by the rigid tpbz ligand, whose capacity to electronically insulate is an essential quality in the development of molecular-based spintronic devices.

Group 10 metal–thiocatecholate capped magnesium phthalocyanines – coupling chromophore and electron donor/acceptor entities and its impact on sulfur induced red-shifts

Four thiocatecholate groups at magnesium phthalocyanine can coordinate transition metals, strongly red-shifting the Q band and promoting charge-transfer to peripheral groups.

Dinuclear Nickel Complexes of Thiolate-Functionalized Carbene Ligands and Their Electrochemical Properties

Four dimeric nickel(II) complexes [Ni₂Cl₂(BnC₂S)₂] [1], [Ni₂Cl₂(BnC₃S)₂] [2], [Ni₂(PyC₂S)₂]Br₂ [3]Br₂, and [Ni₂(PyC₃S)₂]Br₂ [4]Br₂ of four different thiolate-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands were synthesized, and their structures have been determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The four ligands differ by the alkyl chain length between the thiolate group and the benzimidazole nitrogen (two −C₂– or three −C₃– carbon atoms) and the second functionality at the NHC being a benzyl (Bn) or a pyridylmethyl (Py) group. The nickel(II) ions are coordinated to the NHC carbon atom and the pendent thiolate group, which bridges to the second nickel(II) ion creating the dinuclear structure. Additionally, in compounds [1] and [2], the fourth coordination position of the square-planar Ni(II) centers is occupied by the halide ions, whereas in [3]²⁺ and [4]²⁺, the additional pendant pyridylmethyl groups complete the coordination spheres of the nickel ions. The electrochemical properties of the four complexes were studied using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry methods. The thiolate-functionalized carbene complexes [1] and [2] appear to be poor electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction; the complexes [3]Br₂ and [4]Br₂, bearing an extra pyridylmethyl group, show higher catalytic activity in proton reduction, indicating that the pyridine group plays an important role in the catalytic cycle.

Toward Activity Origin of Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction on Carbon-Rich Crystalline Coordination Polymers

The fundamental understanding of electrocatalytic active sites for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is significantly important for the development of metal complex involved carbon electrocatalysts with low kinetic barrier. Here, the MS_x N_y (M = Fe, Co, and Ni, x/y are 2/2, 0/4, and 4/0, respectively) active centers are immobilized into ladder-type, highly crystalline coordination polymers as model carbon-rich electrocatalysts for H₂ generation in acid solution. The electrocatalytic HER tests reveal that the coordination of metal, sulfur, and nitrogen synergistically facilitates the hydrogen ad-/desorption on MS_x N_y catalysts, leading to enhanced HER kinetics. Toward the activity origin of MS₂ N₂ , the experimental and theoretical results disclose that the metal atoms are preferentially protonated and then the production of H₂ is favored on the MN active sites after a heterocoupling step involving a N-bound proton and a metal-bound hydride. Moreover, the tuning of the metal centers in MS₂ N₂ leads to the HER performance in the order of FeS₂ N₂ > CoS₂ N₂ > NiS₂ N₂ . Thus, the understanding of the catalytic active sites provides strategies for the enhancement of the electrocatalytic activity by tailoring the ligands and metal centers to the desired function.

Proton reduction reaction catalyzed by homoleptic nickel bis-1,2-dithiolate complexes: Experimental and theoretical mechanistic investigations

A series of homoleptic monoanionic nickel dithiolene complexes [Ni(bdt)2](NBu4), [Ni(tdt)2](NBu4), and [Ni(mnt)2](NBu4) containing the ligands benzene-1,2-dithiolate (bdt2-), toluene-3,4-dithiolate (tdt2-) and maleonitriledithiolate (mnt2-), respectively, have been employed as electrocatalysts in the hydrogen evolution reaction with trifluoroacetic acid as proton source in acetonitrile. All complexes were active catalysts with TONs reaching 113, 158 and 6 for [Ni(bdt)2](NBu4), [Ni(tdt)2](NBu4), and [Ni(mnt)2](NBu4), respectively. Faradaic yield for hydrogen evolution reaction reaches 88 % for 2- , which also displays the minimal overpotential requirement value (467 mV) within the series. Two pathways for H2 evolution can be hypothesized that differ on on the sequence of protonation and reduction steps. DFT calculations are in agreement with experimental data and indicate that protonation at sulfur follows reduction to the dianion. Hydrogen evolves from the direduced-diprotonated form via a highly distorted nickel hydride intermediate. The effects of acid strength and concentration in the hydrogen-evolving mechanism are also discussed.

A molecular approach to an electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction on single-layer graphene

A major challenge in the development of electrocatalysts is to determine a detailed catalysis mechanism on a molecular level for enhancing catalytic activity. Here, we present bottom-up studies for an electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) process through molecular activation to systematically control surface catalytic activity corresponding to an interfacial charge transfer in a porphyrin monolayer on inactive graphene. The two-dimensional (2D) assembly of porphyrins that create homogeneous active sites (e.g., electronegative tetrapyrroles (N₄)) on graphene showed structural stability against electrocatalytic reactions and enhanced charge transfer at the graphene-liquid interface. Performance operations of the graphene field effect transistor (FET) were an effective method to analyse the interfacial charge transfer process associated with information about the chemical nature of the catalytic components. Electronegative pristine porphyrin or Pt-porphyrin networks, where intermolecular hydrogen bonding functioned, showed larger interfacial charge transfers and higher HER performance than Ni-, or Zn-porphyrin. A process to create surface electronegativity by either central N₄ or metal (M)-N₄ played an important role in the electrocatalytic reaction. These findings will contribute to an in-depth understanding at the molecular level for the synergetic effects of molecular structures on the active sites of electrocatalysts toward HER.

A coordinatively saturated nickel complex supported by triazenido ligands: a new electrocatalyst for hydrogen generation via ligand-centered proton-transfer

The reaction of 1,3-bis[2-aminobenzothiazole]triazene (HL) with Ni(CH₃CO₂)₂ affords a nickel complex, [Ni^II(L)₂] 1, an electrocatalyst for hydrogen generation.

A square-planar nickel dithiolate complex as an efficient molecular catalyst for the electro- and photoreduction of protons

A square-planar nickel cis-dithiolate complex is shown to be an active catalyst for both electro- and photoreduction of protons.

μ-Pyridine-bridged copper complex with robust proton-reducing ability

The interconversion of the binuclear copper complex [Cu(DQPD)]2 to mononuclear [Cu(DQPD)]⁺ has been studied and their catalytic behaviour towards proton reduction has been reported.

A Heterobimetallic W-Ni Complex Containing a Redox-Active W[SNS]2 Metalloligand

The tungsten complex W[SNS]2 ([SNS]H3 = bis(2-mercapto-4-methylphenyl)amine) was bound to a Ni(dppe) [dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane] fragment to form the new heterobimetallic complex W[SNS]2Ni(dppe). Characterization of the complex by single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed the presence of a short W-Ni bond, which renders the complex diamagnetic despite formal tungsten(V) and nickel(I) oxidation states. The W[SNS]2 unit acts as a redox-active metalloligand in the bimetallic complex, which displays four one-electron redox processes by cyclic voltammetry. In the presence of the organic acid 4-cyanoanilinium tetrafluoroborate, W[SNS]2Ni(dppe) catalyzes the electrochemical reduction of protons to hydrogen coincident with the first reduction of the complex.

Enhancing electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution by nickel salicylaldimine complexes with alkali metal cations in aqueous media

The pendant, chelating ethers in the second coordination sphere of nickel salicylaldimine complexes bind alkali metals to promote hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis.

Proton reduction by a nickel complex with an internal quinoline moiety for proton relay

A dicarboxamide based nickel complex with an internal quinoline moiety, acts as an active photocatalyst for proton reduction achieving 2160 turnovers. The pendant base functions for internal proton relay towards the metal center to generate H₂ following a CECE (C = Chemical, E = Electrochemical) mechanistic path.

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution by Cu(ii) complexes

[Cu(Cl-TMPA)Cl₂] has a more labile Cl ligand and a dangling Cl-substituted pyridyl unit; both account for its high photocatalytic H₂ evolution activity.

Hydrogen evolution in [NiFe] hydrogenases and related biomimetic systems: similarities and differences

Schematic overview of the orbitals that play a role in the cycle of reversible hydrogen oxidation in [NiFe] hydrogenases.

Mechanistic studies of the photo-electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction on poly(2,2′-bithiophene)

The realisation of poly(2,2′-bithiophene) (PBTh) as an effective photo-electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction is a novel discovery [Ng et al., Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 2014, 39, 18230]; however, the underlying mechanism for this catalysis remains unknown.