Synthesis, Structure, Magnetic and Electrochemical Properties of a Dinuclear Copper Complex

A material for both magnetic coupling and electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution based on the copper complex, [(L)(2)Cu-2] is formed by the reaction of CuCl(2)2H(2)O with the tetradentate ligand 6-(3-aminomethylpropanol)-2-tert-buty-4-methylphenol (H2L), which is prepared by reaction of 2-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, 3-amino-1-propanol, and formaldehyde. Structural studies show that in the solid state complex 1 exhibits strong antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between copper(II) ions mediated by oxygen-bridges. In liquid, 1 becomes a monomer, and can electrocatalyze hydrogen generation both from acetic acid with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 101.70 mol of hydrogen per mole of catalyst per hour at an overpotential (OP) of 941.6 mV (in DMF), and a natural buffer with a TOF of 650 mol of hydrogen per mole of catalyst per hour at an OP of 836.7 mV.