Highly efficient hydrogen generation from dehydrogenation of formic acid is achieved by using bioinspired iridium complexes that have hydroxyl groups at the ortho positions of the bipyridine or bipyrimidine ligand (i.e., OH in the second coordination sphere of the metal center). In particular, [Ir(Cp*)(TH4BPM)(H2 O)]SO4 (TH4BPM: 2,2',6,6'-tetrahydroxyl-4,4'-bipyrimidine; Cp*: pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) has a high turnover frequency of 39 500 h(-1) at 80 °C in a 1 M aqueous solution of HCO2 H/HCO2 Na and produces hydrogen and carbon dioxide without carbon monoxide contamination. The deuterium kinetic isotope effect study clearly indicates a different rate-determining step for complexes with hydroxyl groups at different positions of the ligands. The rate-limiting step is β-hydrogen elimination from the iridium-formate intermediate for complexes with hydroxyl groups at ortho positions, owing to a proton relay (i.e., pendent-base effect), which lowers the energy barrier of hydrogen generation. In contrast, the reaction of iridium hydride with a proton to liberate hydrogen is demonstrated to be the rate-determining step for complexes that do not have hydroxyl groups at the ortho positions.
Hydrogen generation from formic acid (FA), one of the most promising hydrogen storage materials, has attracted much attention due to the demand for the development of renewable energy carriers. Catalytic dehydrogenation of FA in an efficient and green manner remains challenging. Here, we report a series of bio-inspired Ir complexes for highly robust and selective hydrogen production from FA in aqueous solutions without organic solvents or additives. One of these complexes bearing an imidazoline moiety (complex 6) achieved a turnover frequency (TOF) of 322,000 h −1 at 100 ºC, which is higher than ever reported. The novel catalysts are very stable and applicable in highly concentrated FA. For instance, complex 3(1 µmol) affords an unprecedented turnover number (TON) of 2,050,000 at 60 ºC. Deuterium kinetic isotope effect experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations employing a "speciation" approach demonstrated a change in the rate determining step with increasing solution pH. This study provides not only more insight into the mechanism of dehydrogenation of FA, but also offers a new principle for the design of effective homogeneous organometallic catalysts for H 2 generation from FA.
The catalytic cycle for the production of formic acid by CO2 hydrogenation and the reverse reaction have received renewed attention because they are viewed as offering a viable scheme for hydrogen storage and release. In this Forum Article, CO2 hydrogenation catalyzed by iridium complexes bearing sophisticated N^N-bidentate ligands is reported. We describe how a ligand containing hydroxy groups as proton-responsive substituents enhances the catalytic performance by an electronic effect of the oxyanions and a pendent-base effect through secondary coordination sphere interactions. In particular, [(Cp*IrCl)2(TH2BPM)]Cl2 (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl; TH2BPM = 4,4',6,6'-tetrahydroxy-2,2'-bipyrimidine) enormously promotes the catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 in basic water by these synergistic effects under atmospheric pressure and at room temperature. Additionally, newly designed complexes with azole-type ligands were applied to CO2 hydrogenation. The catalytic efficiencies of the azole-type complexes were much higher than that of the unsubstituted bipyridine complex [Cp*Ir(bpy)(OH2)]SO4. Furthermore, the introduction of one or more hydroxy groups into ligands such as 2-pyrazolyl-6-hydroxypyridine, 2-pyrazolyl-4,6-dihydroxypyrimidine, and 4-pyrazolyl-2,6-dihydroxypyrimidine enhanced the catalytic activity. It is clear that the incorporation of additional electron-donating functionalities into proton-responsive azole-type ligands is effective for promoting further enhanced hydrogenation of CO2.
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