Concerted Proton-electron Transfer Research Articles

A Mechanistic Spectrum of O-H Bond Cleavage Observed for Reactions of Phenols with a Manganese Superoxo Complex.

Reaction of a rare and well-characterized MnIII-superoxo species, Mn(BDPBrP)(O2⋅) (1, H2BDPBrP=2,6-bis((2-(S)-di(4-bromo)phenylhydroxylmethyl-1-pyrrolidinyl)methyl)pyridine), with 4-dimethylaminophenol at -80 °C proceeds via concerted proton electron transfer (CPET) to produce a MnIII-hydroperoxo complex, Mn(BDPBrP)(OOH) (2), alongside 4-dimethylaminophenoxy radical; whereas, upon treatment with 4-nitrophenol, complex 1 undergoes a proton transfer process to afford a MnIV-hydroperoxo complex, [Mn(BDPBrP)(OOH)]+ (3). Intriguingly, the reactions of 1 with 4-chlorophenol and 4-methoxyphenol follow two routes of CPET and sequential proton and electron transfer to furnish complex 2 in the end. UV-vis and EPR spectroscopic studies coupled with DFT calculations provided support for this wide mechanistic spectrum of activating various phenol O-H bonds by a single MnIII-superoxo complex, 1.

A Coupled System of Ni3S2 and Rh Complex with Biomimetic Function for Electrocatalytic 1,4-NAD(P)H Regeneration.

NAD(P)H cofactor is a critical energy and electron carrier in biocatalysis and photosynthesis, but the artificial reduction of NAD(P)+ to regenerate bioactive 1,4-NAD(P)H with both high activity and selectivity is challenging. Herein, we found that a coupled system of a Ni3S2 electrode and a Rh complex in an electrolyte (denoted as Ni3S2-Rh) can catalyze the reduction of NAD(P)+ to 1,4-NAD(P)H with superior activity and selectivity. The optimized selectivity in 1,4-NADH can be up to 99.1%, much higher than that for Ni3S2 (80%); the normalized activity of Ni3S2-Rh is about 5.8 times that of Ni3S2 and 13.2 times that of the Rh complex. The high performance of Ni3S2-Rh is attributed to the synergistic effect between metal sulfides and Rh complex. The NAD+ reduction reaction proceeds via a concerted electron-proton transfer (CEPT) mechanism in the Ni3S2-Rh system, in which Ni3S2 acts as a proton and electron-transfer mediator to accelerate the formation of Rh hydride (Rh-H), and then the Rh-H regioselectively transfers the hydride to NAD+ to form 1,4-NADH. The artificial system Ni3S2-Rh essentially mimics the functions of ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase in nature.

N‒N hydrazonyl bond cleavage in benzothiazolyl-hydrazino-phenathrenequinone mediated by ruthenium(II) via an anion radical intermediate

The complexes [Ru(LBenz)H(CO)(PPh3)2] 2, [Ru(LBenz)Cl(CO)(PPh3)2] 3, (ligand behaving as bidentate monoanionic) and [Ru(LBenz)Cl(CO)(PPh3)] 4, (ligand is tridentate monoanionic) have been synthesized starting from benzothiazolyl-hydrazino-phenathrenequinone (HL) 1 and [RuH(CO)Cl(PPh3)3]. These are characterized by electrochemical and spectral methods as well as single crystal X-ray diffractometry (SCXRD). Upon treating with NaBH4, 3 accepts an electron within the coordinated ligand framework and the anionic hydrazonyl-N takes up a proton to be transformed to meta-stable hydrazinoquinone anion radical complex of ruthenium(II) [Ru(HLBenz•‒)Cl(CO)(PPh3)2] 5, possibly via concerted proton electron transfer process (CPET). Thus, the redox non-innocent character of the ligand upon complexation with ruthenium(II), has been disclosed and it is attributed to presence of low lying π* orbitals of almost entirely of phenanthraquinone and hydrazone character. In 5, the π‒acceptor ability of the ligand donor centres are reduced due to the existence of an odd electron in SOMO and hence the M-L distances around the coordination sphere are altered. The N‒N (hydrazonyl bond length increases from 1.296(6) Å in 3 to 1.429 Å in 5, leading to lesser thermodynamic stability of the latter and upon standing, the N‒N bond is cleaved to be transformed to 6+, possibly via the formation of iminoquinone anion radical complex, [6] (reported elsewhere). Also, it is via the dissociation of N‒N (hydrazonyl) bond, the biologically important molecule 2-aminobenzothiazole is formed along with 6+, so as to provide a novel route for its synthesis.

Replacing a Cysteine Ligand by Selenocysteine in a [NiFe]-Hydrogenase Unlocks Hydrogen Production Activity and Addresses the Role of Concerted Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer in Electrocatalytic Reversibility.

Hydrogenases catalyze hydrogen/proton interconversion that is normally electrochemically reversible (having minimal overpotential requirement), a special property otherwise almost exclusive to platinum metals. The mechanism of [NiFe]-hydrogenases includes a long-range proton-coupled electron-transfer process involving a specific Ni-coordinated cysteine and the carboxylate of a nearby glutamate. A variant in which this cysteine has been exchanged for selenocysteine displays two distinct changes in electrocatalytic properties, as determined by protein film voltammetry. First, proton reduction, even in the presence of H2 (a strong product inhibitor), is greatly enhanced relative to H2 oxidation: this result parallels a characteristic of natural [NiFeSe]-hydrogenases which are superior H2 production catalysts. Second, an inflection (an S-shaped "twist" in the trace) appears around the formal potential, the small overpotentials introduced in each direction (oxidation and reduction) signaling a departure from electrocatalytic reversibility. Concerted proton-electron transfer offers a lower energy pathway compared to stepwise transfers. Given the much lower proton affinity of Se compared to that of S, the inflection provides compelling evidence that concerted proton-electron transfer is important in determining why [NiFe]-hydrogenases are reversible electrocatalysts.

Axial Ligation Impedes Proton-Coupled Electron-Transfer Reactivity of a Synthetic Compound-I Analogue.

The nature of the axial ligand in high-valent iron-oxo heme enzyme intermediates and related synthetic catalysts is a critical structural element for controlling proton-coupled electron-transfer (PCET) reactivity of these species. Herein, we describe the generation and characterization of three new 6-coordinate, iron(IV)-oxo porphyrinoid-π-cation-radical complexes and report their PCET reactivity together with a previously published 5-coordinate analogue, FeIV(O)(TBP8Cz+•) (TBP8Cz = octakis(p-tert-butylphenyl)corrolazinato3-) (2) (Cho, K. A high-valent iron-oxo corrolazine activates C-H bonds via hydrogen-atom transfer. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 7392-7399). The new complexes FeIV(O)(TBP8Cz+•)(L) (L = 1-methyl imidazole (1-MeIm) (4a), 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) (4b), cyanide (CN-)(4c)) can be generated from either oxidation of the ferric precursors or by addition of L to the Compound-I (Cpd-I) analogue at low temperatures. These complexes were characterized by UV-vis, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and Mössbauer spectroscopies, and cryospray ionization mass spectrometry (CSI-MS). Kinetic studies using 4-OMe-TEMPOH as a test substrate indicate that coordination of a sixth axial ligand dramatically lowers the PCET reactivity of the Cpd-I analogue (rates up to 7000 times slower). Extensive density functional theory (DFT) calculations together with the experimental data show that the trend in reactivity with the axial ligands does not correlate with the thermodynamic driving force for these reactions or the calculated strengths of the O-H bonds being formed in the FeIV(O-H) products, pointing to non-Bell-Evans-Polanyi behavior. However, the PCET reactivity does follow a trend with the bracketed reduction potential of Cpd-I analogues and calculated electron affinities. The combined data suggest a concerted mechanism (a concerted proton electron transfer (CPET)) and an asynchronous movement of the electron/proton pair in the transition state.

Electrocatalytic Conversion of Small Molecules Utilizing Concerted Proton-electron Transfer Mediators.

Activation of small molecules such as CO2, N2 or organic substrates and their subsequent transformation into complex value-added chemicals by electrocatalysis, utilizing renewable energy sources under ambient conditions, has gained considerable interest in the last few years. However, activation of these chemically inert molecules is hindered by their intrinsically high activation energy barrier presupposing the development of tailored catalytic systems, often precluding selective transformation to the desired target products. Recent studies have shown that the utilization of concerted proton-electron transfer (CPET) mediators (med-H) may facilitate these challenging electrocatalytic reactions.

Unraveling a Concerted Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Pathway in Atomically Precise Gold Nanoclusters.

Metal nanoclusters (MNCs) represent a promising class of materials for catalytic carbon dioxide and proton reduction as well as dihydrogen oxidation. In such reactions, multiple proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) processes are typically involved, and the current understanding of PCET mechanisms in MNCs has primarily focused on the sequential transfer mode. However, a concerted transfer pathway, i.e., concerted electron-proton transfer (CEPT), despite its potential for a higher catalytic rate and lower reaction barrier, still lacks comprehensive elucidation. Herein, we introduce an experimental paradigm to test the feasibility of the CEPT process in MNCs, by employing Au18(SR)14 (SR denotes thiolate ligand), Au22(SR)18, and Au25(SR)18- as model clusters. Detailed investigations indicate that the photoinduced PCET reactions in the designed system proceed via an CEPT pathway. Furthermore, the rate constants of gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) have been found to be correlated with both the size of the cluster and the flexibility of the Au-S framework. This newly identified PCET behavior in AuNCs is prominently different from that observed in semiconductor quantum dots and plasmonic metal nanoparticles. Our findings are of crucial importance for unveiling the catalytic mechanisms of quantum-confined metal nanomaterials and for the future rational design of more efficient catalysts.

Oxygen-Activated Boron Nitride for Selective Photocatalytic Coupling of Methanol to Ethylene Glycol.

The controllable photocatalytic C-C coupling of methanol to produce ethylene glycol (EG) is a highly desirable but challenging objective for replacing the current energy-intensive thermocatalytic process. Here, we develop a metal-free porous boron nitride catalyst that demonstrates exceptional selectivity in the photocatalytic production of EG from methanol under mild conditions. Comprehensive experiments and calculations are conducted to thoroughly investigate the reaction mechanism, revealing that the OB3 unit in the porous BN plays a critical role in the preferential activation of C-H bond in methanol to form ⋅CH2OH via a concerted proton-electron transfer mechanism. More prominent energy barriers are observed for the further dehydrogenation of the ⋅CH2OH intermediate on the OB3 unit, inhibiting the formation of some other by-products during the catalytic process. Additionally, a small downhill energy barrier for the coupling of ⋅CH2OH in the OB3 unit promotes the selective generation of EG. This study provides valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms and can serve as a guide for the design and optimization of photocatalysts for efficient and selective EG production under mild conditions.

Hydrogen evolution with hot electrons on a plasmonic-molecular catalyst hybrid system

Plasmonic systems convert light into electrical charges and heat, mediating catalytic transformations. However, there is ongoing controversy regarding the involvement of hot carriers in the catalytic process. In this study, we demonstrate the direct utilisation of plasmon hot electrons in the hydrogen evolution reaction with visible light. We intentionally assemble a plasmonic nanohybrid system comprising NiO/Au/[Co(1,10-Phenanthrolin-5-amine)2(H2O)2], which is unstable at water thermolysis temperatures. This assembly limits the plasmon thermal contribution while ensuring that hot carriers are the primary contributors to the catalytic process. By combining photoelectrocatalysis with advanced in situ spectroscopies, we can substantiate a reaction mechanism in which plasmon-induced hot electrons play a crucial role. These plasmonic hot electrons are directed into phenanthroline ligands, facilitating the rapid, concerted proton-electron transfer steps essential for hydrogen generation. The catalytic response to light modulation aligns with the distinctive profile of a hot carrier-mediated process, featuring a positive, though non-essential, heat contribution.

Light-driven hydrogen evolution via a novel pincer/no pincer mechanism including a possible concerted proton electron transfer

New water reduction catalysts containing secondary amines in the backbones show turnover numbers for photochemical hydrogen evolution up to 2237.

O2 reduction via proton-coupled electron transfer by a V(III) aquo on a polyoxovanadate-alkoxide cluster.

We report the transfer of H-atoms from a reduced polyoxovanadate alkoxide [nOct4N][V6O6(OH2)(OMe)12] via concerted proton-electron transfer. Oxygen reduction is compared between bridging and terminal O-H bonds revealing similar mechanisms, providing new insight to design criteria for metal-oxide electrocatalysts that faciliate oxygen reduction by concerted-proton electron transfer.

Hydroxypyridinate-bridged paddlewheel-type dirhodium complex as a catalyst for photochemical and electrochemical hydrogen evolution.

Electrochemical and photochemical hydrogen (H2) evolution activities of a 6-fluoro-2-hydroxypyridinate (fhp-)-bridged paddlewheel-type dirhodium (Rh2) complex, [Rh2(fhp)4], were investigated through experimental and theoretical approaches. In DMF, the [Rh2(fhp)4] underwent a one-electron reduction (assigned to Rh24+/3+) at -1.31V vs SCE in the cathodic region. Adding trifluoroacetic acid as a proton source to the electrochemical cell containing [Rh2(fhp)4], the significant catalytic current, i.e., electrochemical H2 evolution, was observed; the turnover frequency and overpotential of electrochemical H2 evolution were 18 244s-1 and 732 mV, respectively. The reaction mechanism of electrochemical H2 evolution catalyzed by [Rh2(fhp)4] in DMF was examined in detail by theoretically predicting the redox potentials and pKa values of the reaction intermediates using density functional theory calculations. The calculations revealed that (i) the formation of a one-electron reduced species, [Rh2(fhp)4]-, triggered for H2 evolution and (ii) the protonation and reduction processes of [Rh2(fhp)4]- to further reduced hydride intermediates proceeded directly via a concerted proton-electron transfer mechanism. Moreover, [Rh2(fhp)4] was shown to be a highly efficient H2 evolution catalyst (HEC) for photochemical proton reduction reactions when combined with an artificial photosynthetic (AP) system containing [Ir(ppy)2(dtbbpy)]PF6 and triethylamine, which served as a photosensitizer and a sacrificial electron donor, respectively. Under visible light irradiation, the total amount of H2 evolved and its turnover number (per Rh ion) were 1361.0 µmol and 13 610, respectively, which are superior to those of previously reported AP systems with rhodium complexes as HEC.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity of High-Valent Carbene Dicarboxamide-Based Nickel Pincer Complexes.

High-valent metal-fluoride complexes are currently being explored for concerted proton-electron transfer (CPET) reactions, the driving force being the high bond dissociation energy of H-F (BDEH-F = 135 kcal/mol) that is formed after the reaction. Ni(III)-fluoride-based complexes on the pyridine dicarboxamide pincer ligand framework have been utilized for CPET reactions toward phenols and hydrocarbons. We have replaced the central pyridine ligand with an N-heterocyclic carbene carbene to probe its effect in both stabilizing the high-valent Ni(III) state and its ability to initiate CPET reactions. We report a monomeric carbene-diamide-based Ni(II)-fluoride pincer complex that was characterized through 1H/19F NMR, mass spectrometry, UV-vis, and X-ray crystallography analysis. Although carbenes and deprotonated carboxamides in the Ni(II)-fluoride complex are expected to stabilize the Ni(III) state upon oxidation, the Ni(III)/Ni(II) redox process occurred at very high potential (0.87 V vs Fc+/Fc, dichloromethane) and was irreversible. Structural studies indicate significant distortion in the imidazolium "NCN" carbene plane of Ni(II)-fluoride caused by the formation of six-membered metallacycles. The high-valent NiIII-fluoride analogue was synthesized by the addition of 1.0 equiv CTAN (ceric tetrabutylammonium nitrate) in dichloromethane at -20 °C which was characterized by UV-vis, mass spectrometry, and EPR spectroscopy. Density functional theory studies indicate that the Ni-carbene bond elongated, while the Ni-F bond shortened upon oxidation to the Ni(III) species. The high-valent Ni(III)-fluoride was found to react with the substituted phenols. Analysis of the KIE and linear free energy relationship correlates well with the CPET nature of the reaction. Preliminary analysis indicates that the CPET is asynchronous and is primarily driven by the E0' of the Ni(III)-fluoride complex.

A Methoxylation-Promoted CPET Reaction.

The manuscript discloses a methoxylation reaction to an aromatic carbonyl function that carries out a CPET reaction oxidizing a transition metal ion. Spontaneous methoxylation of a redox non-innocent fragment coordinated to a high spin cobalt(II) ion, promoted concerted proton electron transfer (CPET) reaction oxidizing cobalt(II) to cobalt(III) in air and subsequent demethoxylation induced reduction of cobalt(III) to cobalt(II) producing H2 O2 are authenticated. The cobalt(III)/cobalt(II) electron transfer (ET) potential of the designed complex in CH2 Cl2 is -0.27 V vs Fc+ /Fc redox couple. However, in presence of MeOH the reduction potential decreases to -1.02 V due to CPET involving MeOH proton. In CH2 Cl2 /CHCl3 spontaneous demethoxylation occurs giving back the original complex and reactive methoxyl radical that reacts with O2 producing H2 O2 . Overall one molecule of MeOH produces one molecule of H2 O2 . To analyze the involvement of the proton, the rate constants of the CPET reactions in CH2 Cl2 -MeOH (2 : 1) and CH2 Cl2 -CD3 OD (2 : 1) and the demethoxylation reaction in CHCl3 at 330 K were determined by time drive UV-Vis spectroscopy.

Neutral Phenolic Contaminants Are Not Necessarily More Resistant to Permanganate Oxidation Than Their Dissociated Counterparts: Importance of Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer.

Despite decades of research on phenols oxidation by permanganate, there are still considerable uncertainties regarding the mechanisms accounting for the unexpected parabolic pH-dependent oxidation rate. Herein, the pH effect on phenols oxidation was reinvestigated experimentally and theoretically by highlighting the previously unappreciated proton transfer. The results revealed that the oxidation of protonated phenols occurred via proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) pathways, which can switch from ETPT (electron transfer followed by proton transfer) to CEPT (concerted electron-proton transfer) or PTET (proton transfer followed by electron transfer) with an increase in pH. A PCET-based model was thus established, and it could fit the kinetic data of phenols oxidation by permanganate well. In contrast with what was previously thought, both the simulating results and the density functional theory calculation indicated the rate of CEPT reaction of protonated phenols with OH- as the proton acceptor was much higher than that of deprotonated phenols, which could account for the pH-rate profiles for phenols oxidation. Analysis of the quantitative structure-activity relationships among the modeled rate constants, Hammett constants, and pKa values of phenols further supports the idea that the oxidation of protonated phenols is dominated by PCET. This study improves our understanding of permanganate oxidation and suggests a new pattern of reactivity that may be applicable to other systems.

The concerted proton-electron transfer mechanism of proton migration in the electrochemical interface

The proton migration in the electrochemical interface is a fundamental electrochemical processes in proton involved reactions. We find fractional electron transfer, which is inversely proportional to the distance between the proton and electrode, during the proton migration under constant potential. The electrical energy carried by the transferred charge facilitates the proton to overcome the chemical barrier in the migration pathway, which is accounting for more than half electrical energy in the proton involved reactions. Consequently, less charge transfer and energy exchange take place in the reduction process. Therefore, the proton migration in the electrochemical interface is an essential component of the electrochemical reaction in terms of electron transfer and energy conversation, and are worthy of more attention in the rational design and optimization of electrochemical systems.

Reconciling Imbalanced and Nonadiabatic Reactivity in Transition Metal-Oxo-Mediated Concerted Proton Electron Transfer (CPET).

Recently, there have been several experimental demonstrations of how the rates of concerted proton electron transfer (CPET) are affected by stepwise thermodynamic parameters of only proton (ΔG°PT) or electron (ΔG°ET) transfer. Semiclassical structure-activity relationships have been invoked to rationalize these linear free energy relationships, but it is not clear how they would manifest in a nonadiabatic reaction. Using density functional theory calculations, we demonstrate how a decrease in ΔG°PT can lead to transition state imbalance in a nonadiabatic framework. We then use these calculations to anchor a theoretical model that reproduces experimental trends with ΔG°PT and ΔG°ET. Our results reconcile predictions from semiclassical transition state theory with models that treat proton transfer quantum mechanically in CPET reactivity, make new predictions about the importance of basicity for uphill CPET reactions, and suggest similar treatments may be possible for other nonadiabatic reactions.

Mechanistic Study of Reduction of Nitrite to NO by the Copper(II) Complex: Different Concerted Proton-Electron Transfer Reactivity between Nitrite and Nitro Complexes.

The literature contains numerous reports of copper complexes for nitrite (NO2-) reduction. However, details of how protons and electrons arrive and how nitric oxide (NO) is released remain unknown. The influence of the coordination mode of nitrite on reactivity is also under debate. Kundu and co-workers have reported nitrite reduction by a copper(II) complex [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 1726-1730]. In their report, the copper(II) complex reduced nitrite using a phenol derivative as a reductant, resulting in NO, a hydroxyl copper(II) complex, and the corresponding biphenol. Also, the involvement of proton-coupled electron transfer was proposed by mechanistic studies. Herein, density functional theory calculations were performed to determine a mechanism for reduction of nitrite by a copper(II) complex. As a result of geometry optimization of an initial complex, two possible structures were obtained: Cu-ONO and Cu-NO2. Two possible reaction pathways initiated from Cu-ONO or Cu-NO2 were then considered. The calculation results indicated that the Cu-ONO pathway is energetically favorable. When changes in the electronic structure were considered, both pathways were found to involve concerted proton-electron transfer (CPET). In addition, an intrinsic reaction coordinate analysis revealed that the two pathways were achieved by different types of CPET. Furthermore, an intrinsic bond orbital analysis clearly indicated that, in the Cu-ONO pathway, the chemical events involved proceeded concertedly yet asynchronously.

Molecular Bio-inspired Strategies for the Design of Electrocatalytic Systems.

This perspective article delves into the realm of bio-inspired catalysis, highlighting the valuable insights gleaned from enzymatic systems for the design of advanced electrocatalysts. We focus here on three key aspects to mimic: the structure of enzymatic active sites, the essential functions to enable catalytic activity as well as key elementary steps of reaction mechanisms employed by enzymes to ensure maximum efficiency and selectivity. Our research group's contributions to these areas are highlighted, including the synthesis and catalytic activity of cobalt(III) pyridinethiolate complexes, the exploration of bimetallic sites mimicking biological carbon dioxide reductases and of all-ferrous Fe4S4 clusters as mimics of FeP active sites, and the integration of concerted proton-electron transfer (CPET) mediators for the generation of metal hydride species. We emphasize the potential of these bio-inspired approaches in advancing electrocatalyst design and their relevance to molecular catalysis.

Efficient O-O Coupling at Catalytic Interface to Assist Kinetics Optimization on Concerted and Sequential Proton-Electron Transfer for Water Oxidation.

A catalyst kinetics optimization strategy based on tuning active site intermediates adsorption is proposed. Construction of the M-OOH on the catalytic site before the rate-determining step (RDS) is considered a central issue in the strategy, which can optimize the overall catalytic kinetics by avoiding competition from other reaction intermediates on the active site. Herein, the kinetic energy barrier of the O-O coupling for as-prepared sulfated Co-NiFe-LDH nanosheets is significantly reduced, resulting in the formation of M-OOH on the active site at low overpotential, which is directly confirmed by in situ Raman and charge transfer fitting results. Moreover, catalysts constructed from active sites of highly efficient intermediates make a reliable model for studying the mechanism of the OER in proton transfer restriction. In weakly alkaline environments, a sequential proton-electron transfer (SPET) mechanism replaces the concerted proton-electron transfer (CPET) mechanism, and the proton transfer step becomes the RDS; high-speed consumption of reaction intermediates (M-OOH) induces sulfated Co-NiFe-LDH to exhibit excellent kinetics.