Bis(benzimidazole)amino thio- and selenoether Iron(II) complexes as proton reduction electrocatalysts

Hugo C Hernández-Toledo; Marcos Flores-Alamo; Ivan Castillo

doi:10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112128

Bis(benzimidazole)amino thio- and selenoether Iron(II) complexes as proton reduction electrocatalysts

J Inorg Biochem. 2023 Apr:241:112128. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112128. Epub 2023 Jan 20.

Authors

Hugo C Hernández-Toledo¹, Marcos Flores-Alamo², Ivan Castillo³

Affiliations

¹ Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior, CU 04510, Mexico.
² Facultad de Química, División de Estudios de Posgrado, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior, CU 04510, Mexico.
³ Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior, CU 04510, Mexico. Electronic address: joseivan@unam.mx.

PMID: 36701986
DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112128

Abstract

Two novel Iron (II) complexes featuring tetrapodal bis(benzimidazole)amino thio- and selenoether ligands (LS and LSe) were synthesized, characterized, and tested as electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction. The bromide complexes [Fe(LS,LSe)Br₂] (1-2) are highly insoluble, but their DMSO solvates were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, revealing an octahedral coordination environment that does not feature coordination of the chalcogen atoms. The corresponding triflate derivatives [Fe(LS,LSe)(MeCN)₃]OTf₂ (1c-2c) were employed for electrocatalytic proton reduction, with 1c exhibiting higher activity, thus suggesting that the thioether may participate as a more competent pendant ligand for proton transfer.

Keywords: Benzimidazole; Electrocatalysis; Electrochemistry; Iron; [Fe] hydrogenase.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Crystallography, X-Ray
Ferrous Compounds / chemistry
Hydrogen
Iron* / chemistry
Ligands
Protons*

Substances

Iron
Protons
Hydrogen
Ferrous Compounds
Ligands