The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is potentially valuable as an energy storage mechanism coupled to renewable sources. The Ni(P2N2)2 systems discovered and pioneered by D.L. Dubois is one of the best artificial hydrogenase systems in terms of turnover frequency and overpotential. Unfortunately, it has been limited in the past by a synthesis which allowed functionalization only at the pendant amine, whose conformational flexibility is essential for the unique electrocatalysis of these complexes. Recent work by our lab on the synthesis and purification of carbonyl-functionalized P2N2 ligands has allowed further elaboration of ligand types through new synthetic methods. Several complexes of new P2N2 ligands and their electrochemistry will be described here.

Electrocatalysis with phosphine-functionalized P2N2 complexes in proton-coupled electron transfer processes

248th National Meeting (2014)

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