Coordination frameworks containing the pyrimidin-4-olate ligand. Synthesis, thermal, magnetic, and ab initio XRPD structural characterization of nickel and zinc derivatives

Extended coordination frameworks containing the pyrimidin-4-olate ligand (4-pymo) and Zn(II) and Ni(II) metal ions have been obtained by solid state reactions and have been fully characterized by spectroscopic, thermal, and magnetic measurements and by ab initio XRPD. The reaction of ZnO and 4-Hpymo at 140 degrees C gives a solid microcrystalline phase, Zn(4-pymo)(2) (1). Its 3D framework contains Zn(II) centers linked by 4-pymo ligands acting in two different coordination modes, namely, the N,N'- and the N,O-exo-bidentate ones, which result in a pseudotetrahedral ZnN(3)O chromophore. Thermal treatment of the "molecular" Ni(4-pymo)(2)(H(2)O)(4) complex (2) above 140 degrees C gives an anhydrous amorphous material analyzing as Ni(4-pymo)(2) (3a). Further heating of this material above 388 degrees C results in the formation of the microcrystalline layered Ni(4-pymo)(2) species (3b), in which Ni(II) centers are bridged by N,O-exo-bidentate 4-pymo ligands (assisted by longer Ni.N contacts). The thermal dependence of the magnetic susceptibility has been studied for the paramagnetic species 2 and 3a. 2 shows a weak antiferromagnetic interaction [J = -0.313(5) cm(-)(1)] transmitted through the multiple H-bonding interactions between the exocyclic pyrimidine and water oxygen atoms coordinated to the metal centers. 3a behaves as a 2D Heisenberg antiferromagnet with J = -4.11(3) cm(-)(1).     

Stoichiometric and catalytic methods of asymmetric synthesis of nonproteinogenic α-and β-amino acids via transition metal coordination compounds

The complexes of glycine, -alanine, and -alanine with (S)-[N-(N-benzylprolyl)amino] benzophenone formed by Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions and Schiff bases enter into different nucleophilic and electrophilic reactions with the formation of diastereoisomeric complexes which decompose into proteinogenic and nonproteinogenic L-amino acids with a high chemical yield and elevated optical purity (70–90%). Optically pure amino acids can be obtained from diastereoisomerically pure complexes after the complexes are separated by recrystallization of the mixture of diastereoisomeric complexes formed. A new type of interphase catalysts of C-alkylation of achiral Schiff bases was proposed. The catalysts are positively charged Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes of Schiff bases of chiral diamines. In some cases, these complexes have a higher activity and capacity to execute asymmetric alkylation than traditional chiral interphase catalysts based on cinchonidine.Based on materials in the section report by Yu. N. Belokon' to the 7th European Symposium on Organic Chemistry, ESOC-7.A. N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelemental Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117813 Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 1106–1127, May, 1992.     

Mechanistic studies of nickel(II) alkyl agostic cations and alkyl ethylene complexes: investigations of chain propagation and isomerization in (alpha-diimine)Ni(II)-catalyzed ethylene polymerization

The synthesis of a series of (alpha-diimine)NiR(2) (R = Et, (n)Pr) complexes via Grignard alkylation of the corresponding (alpha-diimine)NiBr(2) precursors is presented. Protonation of these species by the oxonium acid [H(OEt(2))(2)](+)[BAr'(4)](-) at low temperatures yields cationic Ni(II) beta-agostic alkyl complexes which model relevant intermediates present in nickel-catalyzed olefin polymerization reactions. The highly dynamic nature of these agostic alkyl cations is quantitatively addressed using NMR line broadening techniques. Trapping of these complexes with ethylene provides cationic Ni alkyl ethylene species, which are used to determine rates of ethylene insertion into primary and secondary carbon centers. The Ni agostic alkyl cations are also trapped by CH(3)CN and Me(2)S to yield Ni(R)(L)(+) (L = CH(3)CN, Me(2)S) complexes, and the dynamic behavior of these species in the presence of varied [L] is discussed. The kinetic data obtained from these experiments are used to present an overall picture of the ethylene polymerization mechanism for (alpha-diimine)Ni catalysts, including effects of reaction temperature and ethylene pressure on catalyst activity, polyethylene branching, and polymer architecture. Detailed comparisons of these systems to the previously presented analogous palladium catalysts are made.     

Comment on "New insights in the electrocatalytic proton reduction and hydrogen oxidation by bioinspired catalysts: a DFT investigation"

In the title paper, Vetere et al. reported a computational investigation of the mechanism of H(2) oxidation/proton reduction using a model of nickel-based electrocatalysts that incorporates pendant amines in cyclic phosphorus ligands. These catalysts are attracting considerable attention owing to their high turnover rates and relatively low overpotentials. These authors interpreted the results of their calculations as evidence for a symmetric bond cleavage of H(2) leading directly to two protonated amines in concert with a two-electron reduction of the Ni(II) site to form a Ni(0) diproton state. Proton reduction would involve a reverse symmetric bond formation. We report here an analysis that refutes the interpretation by these authors. We give, for the same model system, the structure of a heterolytic cleavage transition state consistent with the presence of the Ni(II) center acting as a Lewis acid and the pendant amines acting as Lewis bases. We present the associated intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) pathway connecting the dihydrogen (η(2)-H(2)) adduct and a hydride-proton state. We report also the transition state and associated IRC for the proton rearrangement from a hydride-proton state to a diproton state. Finally, we complete the characterization of the transition state reported by Vetere et al. through a determination of the corresponding IRC. In summary, H(2) oxidation/proton reduction with this class of catalysts involves a heterolytic bond breaking/formation.     

Coordination "oligomers" in self-assembly reactions of some "tritopic" picolinic dihydrazone ligands-mononuclear, dinuclear, hexanuclear, heptanuclear, and nonanuclear examples

"Tritopic" picolinic dihydrazone ligands with tridentate coordination pockets are designed to produce homoleptic [3 x 3] nonanuclear square grid complexes on reaction with transition-metal salts, and many structurally documented examples have been obtained with Mn(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) ions. However, other oligomeric complexes with smaller nuclearities have also been discovered and identified structurally in some reactions involving Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II), with certain tritopic ligands. This illustrates the dynamic nature of the metal-ligand interaction and the conformationally flexible nature of the ligands and points to the possible involvement of some of these species as intermediates in the [3 x 3] grid formation process. Examples of mononuclear, dinuclear, hexanuclear, heptanuclear, and nonanuclear species involving Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) salts with a series of potentially heptadentate picolinic dihydrazone ligands with pyrazine, pyrimidine, and pyridine end groups are described in the present study. Iron and cobalt complexation reactions are complicated by redox processes, which lead to mixed-oxidation-state Co(II)/Co(III) systems when starting with Co(II) salts, and reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II) when starting with Fe(III). Magnetic exchange within the polynuclear structural frameworks is discussed and related to the structural features.     

"Asymmetric" catalysis by lanthanide complexes

Catalysis with lanthanide (Ln) complexes has been underestimated for long time, although Ln(III) complexes have great advantages as Lewis acid catalysts for "asymmetric" carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions. Lanthanide complexes are highly active in ligand-substitution reactions, especially with hard ligands. The association with substrates and dissociation of products are achieved fast enough for high catalyst efficiency. The asymmetric catalysis of organic reactions can be greatly advanced by the use of Ln complexes with chiral ligands such as binaphthol (binol). Ln(II) complexes are good reducing agents, which can be used in a wide variety of synthetically important reactions; when chiral ligands are used, many of these reactions are highly stereoselective. In the context of "green chemistry", the development of asymmetric Ln catalysts, and their recyclable use, is of increasing importance. This review gives an overview of the most recent developments in catalysis with lanthanide(II) and lanthanide(III) complexes.     

Tridentate facial ligation of tris(pyridine-2-aldoximato)nickel(II) and tris(imidazole-2-aldoximato)nickel(II) To generate NiIIFeIIINiII, MnIIINiII, NiIINiII, and ZnIINiII and the electrooxidized MnIVNiII, NiIINiIII, and ZnIINiIII species: a magnetostructural, electrochemical, and EPR spectroscopic study

Eight hetero- and homometal complexes 1-6, containing the metal centers Ni(II)Fe(III)Ni(II) (1), Mn(III)Ni(II) (2), Ni(II)Ni(II) (3a-c and 4), Zn(II)Ni(II) (5), and Zn(II)Zn(II) (6), are described. The tridentate ligation property of the metal complexes tris(pyridine-2-aldoximato)nickel(II) and tris(1-methylimidazole-2-aldoximato)nickel(II) with three facially disposed pendent oxime O atoms has been utilized to generate the said complexes. Complex 1 contains metal centers in a linear arrangement, as is revealed by X-ray diffraction. Complexes were characterized by various physical methods including cyclic voltammetry (CV), variable-temperature (2-290 K) magnetic susceptibility, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements, and X-ray diffraction methods. Binuclear complexes 2-6 are isostructural in the sense that they all contain a metal ion in a distorted octahedral environment MN(3)O(3) and a second six-coordinated Ni(II) ion in a trigonally distorted octahedral NiN(6) geometry. Complexes 1-4 display antiferromagnetic exchange coupling of the neighboring metal centers. The order of the strength of exchange coupling in the isostructural Ni(II)2 complexes, 3a-c, and 4, demonstrates the effects of the remote substituents on the spin coupling. The electrochemical measurements CV and square wave voltammograms (SQW) reveal two reversible metal-centered oxidations, which have been assigned to the Ni center ligated to the oxime N atoms, unless a Mn ion is present. Complex 2, Mn(III)Ni(II), exhibits a reduction of Mn(III) to Mn(II) and two subsequent oxidations of Mn(III) and Ni(II) to the corresponding higher states. These assignments of the redox processes have been complemented by the X-band EPR measurements. That the electrooxidized species [3a]+, [3b]+, [3c]+, and [4]+ contain the localized mixed-valent NiIINiIII system resulting from the spin coupling, a spin quartet ground state, S(t) = 3/2, has been confirmed by the X-band EPR measurements.     

Synthesis of Pt3Ni-based functionalized MWCNTs to enhance electrocatalysis for PEM fuel cells

Nanoscale Pt₃Ni/functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (FMWCNTs) catalysts, successfully synthesized by anchoring nickel–platinum alloy nanoparticles on FMWCNTs, are presented in this paper. Compared with conventional commercial Pt/C catalysts, the preliminary results revealed that the Pt₃Ni/FMWCNTs catalysts demonstrated not only higher specific activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) but also outstanding stability. The enhancement in the stability of the Pt₃Ni/FMWCNTs catalysts is believed to be due to the anchor effects in Pt₃Ni alloy structure, the stronger interaction between Pt₃Ni alloy nanoparticles and FMWCNTs, and the “π sites” anchoring centers for metal nanoparticles from CNTs with high graphite.     

A magnetostructural study of linear NiII MnIII NiII, NiII CrIII NiII and triangular Ni(II)3 species containing (pyridine-2-aldoximato)nickel(II) unit as a building block

Three trinuclear complexes, NiII MnIII NiII, NiII CrIII NiII and Ni(II)3 based on (pyridine-2-aldoximato)nickel(II) units are described. Two of them, and , contain metal-centers in linear arrangement, as is revealed by X-ray diffraction. Complex is a homonuclear complex in which the three nickel(II) centers are disposed in a triangular fashion. The compounds were characterized by various physical methods including cyclic voltammetric and variable-temperature (2-290 K) susceptibility measurements. Complexes and display antiferromagnetic exchange coupling of the neighbouring metal centers, while weak ferromagnetic spin exchange between the adjacent Ni II and Cr III ions in is observed. The experimental magnetic data were simulated by using appropriate models.     

Transition metal complexes — A new class of catalysts of interfacial alkylation for the asymmetrical synthesis of α-amino acids

A new class of catalysts of interfacial asymmetrical alkylation is suggested for the synthesis of -amino acids — positively charged complexes of the transition metals Cu(II), Ni(II), and Pd(II). These complexes consist of several fragments, by variation of which the structure of the catalysts can readily be modified. The complexes are chiral on account of (S)proline derivatives contained in them as one of the fragments. The catalyst complexes (C) were used in the alkylation of amino acid fragments of Ni(II) complexes of the Schiff base of glycine with N-(2-pyridinecarbonyl)-o-aminobenzophenone (Ni-PBP-Gly) and the Schiff base of alanine with N-(2-pyridinecarbonyl)-o-aminobenzaldehyde (Ni-PBA-Ala) under interfacial conditions. After decomposition of the alkylated complexes, phenylalanine and -methyl-phenylalanine were isolated with yields of 33–87% and optical purity (o.p.) from 3 to 21%, depending on the C used.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 126–134, January, 1991.     

Nickel catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl C-O based electrophiles with aryl neopentylglycolboronates

The efficiency of mesylates, sulfamates, esters, carbonates, carbamates, and methyl ethers as C-O-based electrophiles attached to the 1- or 2-position of naphthalene and to activated and nonactivated phenyl substrates was compared for the first time in Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling with phenyl neopentylglycolboronates containing electron-rich and electron-deficient substituents in their para-position. These experiments were performed in the presence of four different Ni(II)- and Ni(0)-based catalysts. Ni(II)-based catalysts mediate the cross-coupling of most 2-naphthyl C-O electrophiles with both arylboronic acids and with neopentylglycolboronates when K(3)PO(4) is used as base. The same catalysts are not efficient when CsF is used as base. However, Ni(0)-based catalysts exhibit selective efficiency, and when reactive, their efficiency is higher than that of Ni(II)-based catalysts in the presence of both K(3)PO(4) and CsF. These results provide both reaction conditions for the cross-coupling, and for the elaboration of orthogonal cross-coupling methodologies of various C-O based electrophiles with aryl neopentylglycolboronates. With the exception of mesylates and sulfamates the efficiency of all other 2-naphthyl C-O electrophiles was lower in cross-coupling with aryl neopentylglycolboronates than with arylboronic acids.     

Monodentate aminophosphine nickel(II)‐ and palladium(II)‐catalyzed ethylene oligomerization and norbornene polymerization

Nickel(II) and palladium(II) complexes of monodentate aminophosphine ligands were prepared and characterized. In ethylene oligomerization and subsequent Friedel–Crafts alkylation of toluene, the Ni(II) complexes Ni‐1 and Ni‐2 were activated with aluminium co‐catalysts and generated tandem catalysts with high activities (up to 1.1 × 10⁶ g (mol Ni)^?1 h^?1) which are comparable with those of previously reported bidentate Ni(II) catalysts. The Pd(II) precatalyst Pd‐1 showed high activities (up to 2.0 × 10⁵ g (mol Pd)^?1 h^?1) in the polymerization of norbornene.     

Syntheses, crystal structures and magnetic properties of Ni(II)–2,4-pyridine-dicarboxylates

Two new complexes [Ni(pydc)(H₂O)₂]_n (1) and [Ni₂(pydc)₂(H₂O)₅]_n (2) (H₂pydc = 2,4-pyridinedicarboxylic acid) have been obtained by hydrothermal synthetic method and characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis. In 1 six-coordinate Ni(II) ions are coordinated by pydc ligands to form 2-D layer structures; while in 2 six-coordinate Ni(II) ions are only connected into 1-D zigzag chains constructed by dinuclear nickel units. Although the coordination geometries around Ni(II) centers in both complexes are similar, their structure topologies are greatly tuned by coordination modes of pydc. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility studies have shown that both compounds 1 and 2 may display antiferromagnetic coupling between paramagnetic metal centers mediated by bridging carboxylate groups.     

Assembling novel heterotrimetallic Cu/Co/Ni and Cu/Co/Cd cores supported by diethanolamine ligand in one-pot reactions of zerovalent copper with metal salts

The three novel heterotrimetallic complexes [Ni(H2L)2][CoCu(L)2(H2L)(NCS)]2(NCS)2 (1), [Ni(H2L)2][CuCo(L)2(H2L)(NCS)]2Br2.2H2O (2), and [CuCoCd(H2L)2(L)2(NCS)Br2].CH3OH (3) have been prepared using zerovalent copper; cobalt thiocyanate; nickel thiocyanate (1), nickel bromide (2), or cadmium bromide (3); and methanol solutions of diethanolamine in air. The most prominent feature of the structures of 1 and 2 is the formation of the "pentanuclear"aggregate [[Ni(H2L)2][CoCu(L)2(H2L)(NCS)]2]2+ made up of two neutral [CoCu(L)2(H2L)(NCS)] units and the previously unknown cation [Ni(H2L)2]2+ "glued together" by strong complementary hydrogen bonds. With Cd2+ instead of Ni2+, a different structure is obtained: the [CoCu(L)2(H2L)(NCS)] unit is now linked to the Cd center through coordination of the oxygens of L groups on the Co atom to form the discrete heterotrimetallic molecular species 3. Cryomagnetic measurements of the compounds show that, in all cases, the magnetic behavior is paramagnetic; the polycrystalline EPR spectra contain signals due to monomeric copper species only. At the same time, the EPR spectra of frozen DMF and methanol solutions of 1-3 reveal the presence of triplet-state species that can be generated only by a coupling of the Cu2+ centers within a dimer. The species responsible for the appearance of transitions within the triplet state are thought to be Cu(II) dimeric centers formed by aggregation of two [CuCo(H2L)(L)2] fragments of 1-3 present in solution. The residual monomeric spectra in the g approximately 2 region are indicative of the existence of an equilibrium in solution between the dimeric and monomeric Cu(II) centers in aggregated and free [CuCo(H2L)(L)2] fragments, respectively, with varying degrees of stability. The fragmentation process of 1-3 in solution was screened by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.     

Oxidative addition of dihydrogen as the key step of the active center formation in the HDS sulfide bimetallic catalysts: ab initio MO/MP2 study

The electronic structure of Ni in the sulfide bimetallic species (SBMS), which is the active component of the sulfide HDS catalysts, is studied with the ab initio molecular orbital calculations. In the previous paper [I.I. Zakharov, A.N. Startsev, G.M. Zhidomirov, J. Mol. Catal. 119 (1997) 437], we have shown that the d⁸ Ni(II) electronic state in the SBMS composition cannot be active in HDS reaction because of the lack of possibility to coordinate S-containing molecule. Therefore, this paper deals with the study of the possibility to stabilize d⁶ electron configuration with the formal Ni(IV) oxidation state. With this in mind, the reaction of oxidative addition of dihydrogen to square–planar complex Ni(II)Cl₂(PH₃)₂ has been studied, which allowed to predict a stabilization of the octahedral complex Ni(IV)H₂Cl₂(PH₃)₂ with d⁶ configuration. This allows us to assume a possibility of an oxidative adsorption of dihydrogen to the Ni atom entering the SBMS composition. Ab initio calculations have shown that such type of oxidative addition is thermodynamically favorable resulting in stabilization of the Ni(IV) d⁶ electronic state. Consequently, the dihydrogen molecule is assumed to dissociate on the Ni atom resulting in the formation of `surface' H<sub>s</sub> and `occluded' H_o hydrogen, which is located under the Ni atom in the center of the trigonal sulfur prism. The structure of the active centers is optimized and the stretching modes of the hydrogen atoms are calculated, which appear to be close to the literature data. The H₂S adsorption on the active center was also investigated and it was shown that the hydrogen disulfide molecule benefits to stabilization of the active Ni(IV) d⁶ state. The conclusion is drawn that the deciding factor in the formation of the active centers of sulfide HDS catalysts is the `occluded' hydrogen.     

Geometric parameters and energies of molecular structures of macrocyclic metal chelates in the ternary 3<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis> M(II) ion-ethanedithioamide-ethanedial systems according to quantum-chemical DFT B3LYP calculations

The thermodynamic and geometric parameters of isomeric macrotricyclic Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) complexes with the (NSSN) coordination of the ligand donor centers formed in the reaction of corresponding hexacyanoferrates(II) with ethanedithioamide H₂N-C(=S)-C(=S)-NH₂ and ethanedial HC(=O)-CH(=O) in gelatin-immobilized matrix implants have been calculated by the hybrid B3LYP density functional theory method with the use of the 6–31G(d) basis set and the Gaussian 03 program package. The bond lengths and bond and torsion angles in these complexes have been reported, and it has been stated that the Mn(II), Co(II), and Cu(II) complexes are nearly planar, the Fe(II) and Ni(II) complexes are slightly nonplanar, while the Zn(II) complex exhibits a rather considerable deviation from coplanarity. The additional five-membered chelate ring resulting from template cross-linking is almost planar in all cases.     

Gas-Phase Thiophene Hydrogenation to Tetrahydrothiophene over Sulfide Catalysts

Thiophene hydrogenation to tetrahydrothiophene over supported transition metal sulfides is studied. Comparison of the atomic catalytic activity at T = 240°C and P = 2 MPa showed that aluminosilicate-supported PdS is one to two orders of magnitude more active than Rh, Ru, Mo, W, Re, Co, and Ni sulfides on various supports. These metal sulfides are arranged in the following series according to the rate of tetrahydrothiophene formation: Pd Mo > Rh Ru > Re > W > Co > Ni. The reaction over sulfide catalysts is assumed to occur through thiophene activation on proton centers and coordinatively unsaturated cations of metal sulfides and additionally on the proton centers of support in the case of palladium catalysts.     

Synthesis,characterization and catalytic activity of polymer anchored transition metal complexes toward oxidation reactions

The polymer-anchored Schiff base complexes of Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Mn(II) and Fe(III) were prepared by reacting polystyrene amine with 2-pyridinecarbaldehyde followed by loading of metal atom in methanol. These complexes were characterized by using different physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. The catalytic activity of these polymer-supported metal catalysts was tested for the oxidation of various olefins and alcohols. Influence of various reaction parameters, such as reaction temperature, reaction time, oxidant, substrate-to-oxidant mole ratio and nature of solvent, was studied for the oxidation of cyclohexene with these catalysts. Among the catalysts studied, Cu-Cat showed higher catalytic activity toward oxidation reactions than the other catalysts. Moreover, hot filtration experiments proved that these catalysts are truly heterogeneous and can be reused a number of times without significant loss of activity.     

Combined polymerization catalysis of nickel complex and zirconocene for branched polyethylene

The polymerization behavior of 2-(2′-pyridyl) quinoxaline nickel dibromide/Cp₂ZrCl₂/MAO system was investigated in three ways: the Ni catalyst was added first, followed by addition of Zr catalyst (method I); the Ni and Zr catalysts were added simultaneously (method II); and the Zr catalyst was added first, followed by addition of Ni catalyst (method III). Results of GC-MS, GPC,¹³C NMR and DSC investigations indicated that the properties of resulting polyethylene were greatly varied by changing feeding orders of the two catalysts. Decreasing Ni/Zr molar ratio or increasing polymerization temperature gave corresponding polyethylenes with less branches and higher melting point. Compared to the procedure using Cp₂ZrCl₂ catalyst only, the activity of Zr catalyst in those combined system decreased because of the competition of ethylene between the [Ni−C] and [Zr−C] active centers. In addition, other zirconocenes were also employed as copolymerization catalysts in the combined system with nickel complex. compared to Cp₂ZrCl₂ case, the ethyl-bridged Zr catalyst performed better for polymerization of ethylene while the Si-bridged Zr catalyst showed better copolymerization ability.     

Interfacial impregnation chemistry in the synthesis of nickel catalysts supported on titania

The interfacial chemistry of the impregnation step involved in the preparation of nickel catalysts supported on titania is presented. Several methodologies based on deposition data, pH measurements, potentiometric mass titrations, and microelectrophoresis have been used in conjunction with diffuse reflectance UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy, simulations, and semiempirical quantum chemical calculations. Three mononuclear inner-sphere complexes were formed at the compact layer of the "titania/electrolyte solution" interface: A monosubstituted, dihydrolyzed complex above a terminal oxo group, a disubstituted, dihydrolyzed complex above two terminal adjacent oxo groups, and a disubstituted, nonhydrolyzed complex above one terminal and one bridging adjacent oxo groups. The monosubstituted, dihydrolyzed complex predominates. The contribution of the disubstituted configurations is also important at very low Ni(II) surface concentration, but it decreases as the Ni(II) surface concentration increases. In addition, bi- and trinuclear inner-sphere complexes were formed. The receptor site involves one bridging and two terminal oxo groups in the first case and two bridging and three terminal oxo groups in the second case. The relative surface concentrations of these configurations increase initially with Ni(II) surface concentration and then remain practically constant. The understanding of these interfacial processes at a molecular level is very important to shift the catalytic synthesis from an art to a science as well as to obtain strict control of the impregnation step and, to some extent, of the whole preparative sequence. This study is very relevant to the synthesis of submonolayer/monolayer nickel catalysts supported on TiO(2) following equilibrium deposition filtration (otherwise called equilibrium adsorption).