The impact of the macrocyclic ligand on the electronic structure of two LNi-O2 biomimetic adducts, [Ni(12-TMC)O2](+) (12-TMC = 1,4,7,10-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) and [Ni(14-TMC)O2](+) (14-TMC = 1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane), has been inspected by means of difference-dedicated configuration interaction calculations and a valence bond reading of the wavefunction. The system containing the 12-membered macrocyclic ligand has been experimentally described as a side-on nickel(III)-peroxo complex, whereas the 14-membered one has been characterized as an end-on nickel(II)-superoxide. Our results put in evidence the relationship between the steric effect of the macrocyclic ligand, the O2 coordination mode and the charge transfer extent between the Ni center and the O2 molecule. The 12-membered macrocyclic ligand favors a side-on coordination, a most efficient overlap between Ni 3d and O2 π* orbitals and, consequently, a larger charge transfer from LNi fragment to O2 molecule. The analysis of the ground-state electronic structure shows an enhancement of the peroxide nature of the Ni-O2 interaction for [Ni(12-TMC)O2](+), although a dominant superoxide character is found for both systems.
Keywords: DDCI calculations; O2 activation; superoxo/peroxo nature; valence‐bond.
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