Distinct Bimetallic Cooperativity Among Water Reduction Catalysts Containing [CoIII CoIII ], [NiII NiII ], and [ZnII
Fredricka Morgan1, Richard Schaugaard1, Dennis Anderson1
1Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, 5101 Cass Ave., Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
Abstract:
Three binuclear species [LCoIII 2 (μ-Pz)2 ](ClO4 )3 (1), [LNiII 2 (CH3 OH)2 Cl2 ]ClO4 (2), and [LZnII 2 Cl2 ]PF6 (3) supported by the deprotonated form of the ligand 2,6-bis[bis(2-pyridylmethyl) amino-methyl]-4-methylphenol were synthesized, structurally characterized as solids and in solution, and had their electrochemical and spectroscopic behavior established. Species 1-3 had their water reduction ability studied aiming to interrogate the possible cooperative catalytic activity between two neighboring metal centers. Species 1 and 2 reduced H2 O to H2 effectively at an applied potential of -1.6 VAg/AgCl , yielding turnover numbers of 2,820 and 2,290, respectively, after 30 minutes. Species 3 lacked activity and was used as a negative control to eliminate the possibility of ligand-based catalysis. Pre- and post-catalytic data gave evidence of the molecular nature of the process within the timeframe of the experiments. Species 1 showed structural, rather than electronic cooperativity, while species 2 displayed no obvious cooperativity. DFT methods complemented the experimental results determining plausible mechanisms.
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