Isolation of Mn(I) Compounds Featuring a Reduced Bis(imino)pyridine Chelate and Their Relevance to Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Production

Tufan K. Mukhopadhyay, Nicholas L. Maclean, Marco Flores, Thomas L. Groy, Ryan J. Trovitch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report the preparation and electronic structure determination of chelate-reduced Mn(I) compounds that are relevant to electrocatalytic proton reduction mediated by [(Ph2PPrPDI)Mn(CO)][Br]. Reducing [(Ph2PPrPDI)Mn(CO)][Br] with excess Na-Hg afforded a neutral paramagnetic complex, (Ph2PPrPDI)Mn(CO). This compound was found to feature a low spin Mn(I) center and a PDI radical anion as determined by magnetic susceptibility measurement (1.97 μB), EPR spectroscopy (S = 1/2), and density functional theory calculations. When [(Ph2PPrPDI)Mn(CO)][Br] was reduced with K-Hg, Mn(I) complexes with highly activated CO ligands were obtained. Recrystallization of the reduced product from diethyl ether solution allowed for the isolation of dimeric [(κ4-Ph2PPrPDI)Mn(μ-n1, n 1, n 2-CO)K(Et2O)]2CO = 1710 cm-1, 1656 cm-1), while methyl tert-butyl ether treatment afforded dimeric [(κ4-Ph2PPrPDI)Mn(μ- n 1, n 1-CO)K(MTBE)2]2CO = 1695 cm-1, MTBE = methyl tert-butyl ether). Addition of 18-crown-6 to these products, or conducting the K-Hg reduction of [(Ph2PPrPDI)Mn(CO)][Br] in the presence of 18-crown-6, allowed for the isolation of a monomeric example, (κ4-Ph2PPrPDI)Mn(μ- n 1, n 2-CO)K(18-crown-6) (ν CO = 1697 cm-1). All three complexes were found to be diamagnetic and were characterized thoroughly by multinuclear 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Detailed analysis of the metrical parameters and spectroscopic properties suggest that all three compounds possess a Mn(I) center that is supported by a PDI dianion. Importantly, (κ4-Ph2PPrPDI)Mn(μ- n 1, n 2-CO)K(18-crown-6) was found to react instantaneously with either HBF4·OEt2 or HOTf to evolve H2 and generate the corresponding Mn(I) complex, [(Ph2PPrPDI)Mn(CO)][BF4] or [(Ph2PPrPDI)Mn(CO)][OTf], respectively. These products are spectroscopically and electrochemically similar to previously reported [(Ph2PPrPDI)Mn(CO)][Br]. It is believed that the mechanism of [(Ph2PPrPDI)Mn(CO)][Br]-mediated proton reduction involves intermediates that are related to the compounds described herein and that their ambient temperature isolation is aided by the redox active nature of Ph2PPrPDI.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6065-6075
Number of pages11
JournalInorganic chemistry
Volume57
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - May 21 2018

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Inorganic Chemistry

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