Conversion of E4 (E4=P4, As4, AsP3) by Ni(0) and Ni(I) Synthons – A Comparative Study

The reactivity of white phosphorus and yellow arsenic towards two different nickel nacnac complexes is investigated. The nickel complexes [(L¹Ni)₂tol] ( 1 , L¹=[{N(C₆H₃ⁱPr₂-2,6)C(Me)}₂CH]⁻) and [K₂][(L¹Ni)₂(μ,η^{1 : 1}-N₂)] ( 6 ) were reacted with P₄, As₄ and the interpnictogen compound AsP₃, respectively, yielding the homobimetallic complexes [(L¹Ni)₂(μ-η²,κ¹:η²,κ¹-E₄)] (E=P ( 2 a ), As ( 2 b ), AsP₃ ( 2 c )), [(L¹Ni)₂(μ,η^{3 : 3}-E₃)] (E=P ( 3 a ), As ( 3 b )) and [K@18-c-6(thf)₂][L¹Ni(η^{1 : 1}-E₄)] (E=P ( 7 a ), As ( 7 b )), respectively. Heating of 2 a , 2 b or 2 c also leads to the formation of 3 a or 3 b . Furthermore, the reactivity of these compounds towards reduction agents was investigated, leading to [K₂][(L¹Ni)₂(μ,η^{2 : 2}-P₄)] ( 4 ) and [K@18-c-6(thf)₃][(L¹Ni)₂(μ,η^{3 : 3}-E₃)] (E=P ( 5 a ), As ( 5 b )), respectively. Compound 4 shows an unusual planarization of the initial Ni₂P₄-prism. All products were comprehensively characterized by crystallographic and spectroscopic methods.     

Computational Screening of 3 d Transition Metal Atoms Anchored on Defective Graphene for Efficient Electrocatalytic N2 Fixation

The synthesis of ammonia (NH₃) through the electrochemical reduction of molecular nitrogen (N₂) is a promising strategy for significantly reducing energy consumption compared to traditional industrial processes. Herein, we report the design of a series of monovacancy and divacancy defective graphenes decorated with single 3d transition metal atoms (TM@MVG and TM@DVG; TM=Sc−Zn) as electrocatalysts for the nitrogen-reduction reaction (NRR) aided by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. By comparing energies for N₂ adsorption as well as the free energies associated with *N₂ activation and *N₂H formation, we successfully identified V@MVG, with the lowest potential of −0.63 V, to be an effective catalytic substrate for the NRR in an enzymatic mechanism. Electronic properties, including Bader charges, charge density differences, partial densities of states, and crystal orbital Hamilton populations, are further analyzed in detail. We believe that these results help to explain recent observations in this field and provide guidance for the exploration of efficient electrocatalysts for the NRR.     

Structural and Electronic Influences on Rates of Tertpyridine−Amine CoIII−H Formation During Catalytic H2 Evolution in an Aqueous Environment

In this work, the differences in catalytic performance for a series of Co hydrogen evolution catalysts with different pentadentate polypyridyl ligands (L), have been rationalized by examining elementary steps of the catalytic cycle using a combination of electrochemical and transient pulse radiolysis (PR) studies in aqueous solution. Solvolysis of the [Co^II−Cl]⁺ species results in the formation of [Co^II(κ⁴-L)(OH₂)]²⁺. Further reduction produces [Co^I(κ⁴-L)(OH₂)]⁺, which undergoes a rate-limiting structural rearrangement to [Co^I(κ⁵-L)]⁺ before being protonated to form [Co^III−H]²⁺. The rate of [Co^III−H]²⁺ formation is similar for all complexes in the series. Using E_1/2 values of various Co species and pK_a values of [Co^III−H]²⁺ estimated from PR experiments, we found that while the protonation of [Co^III−H]²⁺ is unfavorable, [Co^II−H]⁺ reacts with protons to produce H₂. The catalytic activity for H₂ evolution tracks the hydricity of the [Co^II−H]⁺ intermediate.