Incorporating Amino Acid Esters into Catalysts for Hydrogen Oxidation: Steric and Electronic Effects and the Role of Water as a Base

Four derivatives of a hydrogen oxidation catalyst, [Ni­(P^Cy₂N^Bn‑R₂)₂]²⁺ (Cy = cyclohexyl, Bn = benzyl, R = OMe, COOMe, CO-alanine-methyl ester, CO-phenylalanine-methyl ester), have been prepared to investigate steric and electronic effects on catalysis. Each complex was characterized spectroscopically and electrochemically, and thermodynamic data were determined. Crystal structures are also reported for the −OMe and −COOMe derivatives. All four catalysts were found to be active for H₂ oxidation. The methyl ester (R = COOMe) and amino acid ester containing complexes (R = CO-alanine-methyl ester or CO-phenylalanine-methyl ester) had rates slower (4 s^–1) than that of the parent complex (10 s^–1), in which R = H, which is consistent with the lower amine pK_a's and less favorable ΔG_H2's found for these electron-withdrawing substituents. Dynamic processes for the amino acid ester containing complexes were also investigated and found not to hinder catalysis. The electron-donating methyl ether derivative (R = OMe) was prepared to compare electronic effects and has a catalytic rate similar to that of the parent complex. In the course of these studies, it was found that water could act as a weak base for H₂ oxidation, although catalytic turnover requires a higher potential and utilizes a different sequence of catalytic steps than when using a base with a higher pK_a. Importantly, these catalysts provide a foundation upon which larger peptides can be attached to [Ni­(P^Cy₂N^Bn₂)₂]²⁺ hydrogen oxidation catalysts in order to more fully investigate and implement the effects of the outer coordination sphere.