Single‐Step Synthesis of Ni^I from Ni^II with H₂

Abstract

Chemists have long sought to regulate the reactivity of H2, to yield hydride ions, hydrogen atoms, or electrons on demand. One source of inspiration for achieving this control is [NiFe]hydrogenase ([NiFe]H2ase), which reacts with H2 to form various hydrogen active species such as NiIII hydride species, NiII hydride species, and NiI low‐valent species. Chemists have attempted to synthesize these hydrogen active species not only as models for the active species of [NiFe]H2ase, but also as electron transfer catalysts. However, the synthesis of NiI complex directly from H2 has not been reported. This paper reports the first example of a single‐step synthesis of a NiI complex, via reaction of a NiII complex with H2, stable for over 3 months at room temperature and we further demonstrate a reductive coupling of acridinium ions as part of a reaction cycle.

Storing electrons from H2 for transfer to CO2, all at room temperature

“…The extraction of the electron from H 2 has been performed at room temperature by using hydrogenase model complexes (Table S2, ESI †). [12][13][14]16,18,19,[23][24][25][26] Although the extracted electrons have been used for the reduction of the ferrocenium ion, Cu II , O 2 or organic halides at room temperature, there was no example of the reduction of CO 2 at room temperature (Table S2, ESI †).…”