Incorporating Amino Acid Esters into Catalysts for Hydrogen Oxidation: Steric and Electronic Effects and the Role of Water as a Base
Four derivatives of a hydrogen oxidation catalyst, [Ni(PCy2NBn-R2)2]2+ (Cy = cyclohexyl, Bn = benzyl, R = OMe, COOMe, CO-alanine-methyl ester, CO-phenylalanine-methyl ester), have been prepared to investigate steric and electronic effects on catalysis. Each complex was characterized spectroscopically and electrochemically, and thermodynamic data were determined. Crystal structures are also reported for the -OMe and -COOMe derivatives. All four catalysts were found to be active for H2 oxidation. The methyl ester (R = COOMe) and amino acid ester containing complexes (R = CO-alanine-methyl ester or CO-phenylalanine-methyl ester) had rates slower (4 s–1) than that of the parent complex (10 s–1), in which R = H, which is consistent with the lower amine pKa's and less favorable ΔGH2's found for these electron-withdrawing substituents. Dynamic processes for the amino acid ester containing complexes were also investigated and found not to hinder catalysis. The electron-donating methyl ether derivative (R = OMe) was prepared to compare electronic effects and has a catalytic rate similar to that of the parent complex. In the course of these studies, it was found that water could act as a weak base for H2 oxidation, although catalytic turnover requires a higher potential and utilizes a different sequence of catalytic steps than when using a base with a higher pKa. Finally and importantly, these catalysts provide a foundation upon which larger peptides can be attached to [Ni(PCy2NBn2)2]2+ hydrogen oxidation catalysts in order to more fully investigate and implement the effects of the outer coordination sphere.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 1054840
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-87812; KC0302010; KC0307010; KC0302010
- Journal Information:
- Organometallics, Vol. 31, Issue 19; ISSN 0276-7333
- Publisher:
- American Chemical Society
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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