Synthesis and electrochemical properties of a water soluble nickel(II) complex supported by N-phenylpyridin-2-ylmethanimine ligand

The N-phenylpyridin-2-ylmethanimine ligand, HL reacts with NiCl2·6H2O to afford a water soluble nickel(II) complex, [Ni(HL)2Cl2] 1. Electrochemical studies exhibit that this complex acts as an electrocatalyst for water reduction to hydrogen from a neutral water (pH 7.0) with a TOF of 970.45mol of hydrogen per mole of catalyst per hour at an OP of 837.6mV. This can be attributed to the ligand HL, that coordinates through four nitrogen atoms to the nickel center and can stabilize low oxidation state of nickel well.