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Syntheses of cofacial dimetallodiporphyrins and their applications to dihydrogen activation or proton reduction catalysis: Models for hydrogen electrode catalysts

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:5534281

Dihydrogen may be a future fuel source which could help relieve our present, heavy dependence on coal and oil. Electrochemical methods are the most efficient ways of producing H[sub 2]. It is necessary to catalyze this process. In the present work, activation of dihydrogen and proton reduction to dihydrogen have been studied with new cofacial dimetalloporphyrin complexes. A cofacial dirhodium diporphyrin, Rh[sub 2]DPB, was prepared and used to activate dihydrogen in the presence of ancillary ligands. The reaction of Rh[sub 2]DPB with H[sub 2] and CO resulted in the dirhodium diporphyrin dihydride, Rh(H)Rh(H)DPB. When phosphines or phosphites were employed in the reaction between Rh[sub 2]DPB and H[sub 2], a different type of hydride complex was produced. Three-center two-electron bonded hydride structures have been suggested, based on the upfield M-H chemical shifts, large T[sub 1] values, the absence of [sup 1]J[sub HD], and small [sup 2]J[sub P-H] coupling constants. Catalytic dihydrogen evolution via proton reduction has been achieved using a series of cofacial bisorganometallic diporphyrins. These compounds were synthesized by addition of the corresponding Grignard reagent to the dication of the dimetallodiporphyrins. Chemical two-electron reduction of M[sub 2][sup III/III]R[sub 2]DPB, protonation with a suitable acid, and subsequent H[sub 2] elimination with concurrent re-oxidation of the complexes were investigated. Reduction potentials of M[sub 2]R[sub 2]DPB were measured, and the pK[sub a] values of the catalysts estimated. By changing the central metal and modifying axial ligation, more efficient proton reduction and/or dihydrogen oxidation can be realized. Dinuclear centers in close proximity provide methods for activating molecules and/or performing redox reactions with substrates. Complexes derived from these dinuclear systems constitute additional models for understanding reactivity observed at metal surfaces, in homogeneous catalysis, and in clusters.

Research Organization:
Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
OSTI ID:
5534281
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English