Sustainable hydrogen production is a key target for the development of alternative, future energy systems that will provide a clean and affordable energy supply. We will be advancing the study of photocatalytic hydrogen producers that mimic the reaction of the oxygen-evolving center in Photosystem II. Cobalt and possibly other high-valent metal-oxo complexes will be synthesized and their catalytic nature in aqueous solution will be examined. Synthesis began at Austin Peay State University with the previously known pentadentate 1-(2,2'-bipyridin-6-methyl)-N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-amine (DPA-BPY) ligands. Once completed, we will conference with our partners at the University of Memphis who are completing Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations on the potential DPA-BPY ligand substitutions. A range of electron donating and electron withdrawing substituents will be logically and systematically added to the DPA-BPY ligands. The ability to tune the reduction potential of the complex by altering the substituents is imperative for the design of a more efficient catalyst. The new ligands will be synthesized in concert with our partners, characterized, and catalytic nature examined.

Synthesis and characterization of ligands for organometallic biomimetic catalysts

247th National Meeting (2014)

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