Nickel complexes with cyclic ligands containing P and N atoms as coordination sites: novel biomimetic catalysts for hydrogen oxidation

Nickel complexes with new cyclic ligands containing phosphorus and nitrogen atoms as coordination sites are novel efficient catalysts for hydrogen oxidation. A systematic study of their electrochemical properties made it possible to classify the nickel systems in question into four groups according to the sequence of electron transfer processes in the reduction (MII-MI-M0) and to the nature of solvents and counterions. Regularities of catalytic transformations involving nickel complexes with P,N-cyclic ligands in the H2 oxidation reaction in the coordination sphere of the catalyst and a correlation between the structure of the complex and its redox properties were established. The most efficient catalysts contain phenyl and 2-pyridyl substituents at the phosphorus atom and benzyl or 2-pyridyl substituents at the nitrogen atom.