As our global population grows, our need for innovative energy sources also grows. One new energy source can be found through the use of artificial photosynthesis to produce hydrogen gas. We are currently investigating the effectiveness of nickel complexes with thiosalen ligands, specifically [Ni(tsalen), Ni(tsalphen), and Ni(tsaltol)=(tsalen=N,N'-ethylene-bis(thiosalicylideneimine); tsalphen=N,N'-phenylene-bis(thiosalicylideneimine); tsaltol=4-methyl-1,2-phenylene-bis(thiosalicylideneimine))], acting as catalysts for artificial photosynthethesis. Hydrogen production has been measured electro-catalytically and photo-catalytically. Hydrogen production was measured in light driven systems with [Ru(bpy)<sub>3</sub>]<sup>2+</sup>and ascorbic acid to yield turnover numbers as high as 270. In an effort to reduce the overpotential of these complexes, we have explored the effects of adding electron withdrawing substituents to the thiolate rings. Select complexes have also been investigated with computational methods to determine frontier molecular orbitals and reduction potentials.

Thiosalen nickel complexes as light driven proton reduction catalysts

2019 Spring National Meeting

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