New paper from the cooperation of Michal Novotný with the Slovak University of Technology
Ni Oxidation State and Ligand Saturation Impact on the Capability of Octaazamacrocyclic Complexes to Bind and Reduce CO2
(MDPI)
Barbora Vénosová, Ingrid Jelemenská, Jozef Kožíšek, Peter Rapta, Michal Zalibera, Michal Novotný, Vladimir B. Arion and Lukáš Bučinský
Abstract
Two 15-membered octaazamacrocyclic nickel(II) complexes are investigated by theoretical methods to shed light on their affinity forwards binding and reducing CO2. In the first complex 1[NiIIL]0, the octaazamacrocyclic ligand is grossly unsaturated (π-conjugated), while in the second 1[NiIILH]2+ one, the macrocycle is saturated with hydrogens. One and two-electron reductions are described using Mulliken population analysis, quantum theory of atoms in molecules, localized orbitals, and domain averaged fermi holes, including the characterization of the Ni-CCO2 bond and the oxidation state of the central Ni atom. It was found that in the [NiLH] complex, the central atom is reduced to Ni0 and/or NiI and is thus able to bind CO2 via a single σ bond. In addition, the two-electron reduced 3[NiL]2− species also shows an affinity forwards CO2.