New Functional Cyclic Aminomethylphosphine Ligands for the Construction of Catalysts for Electrochemical Hydrogen Transformations

Eight‐membered cyclic functional bisphosphines, namely 1,5‐di‐aryl‐3,7‐di(2‐pyridyl)‐1,5‐diaza‐3,7‐diphosphacyclooctanes (aryl=2‐pyridyl, m‐tolyl, p‐tolyl, diphenylmethyl, benzyl, (R)‐(+)‐(α‐methyl)benzyl), with 2‐pyridyl substituents on the phosphorus atoms have been synthesized by condensation of 2‐pyridylphosphine, formaldehyde, and the corresponding primary amine. The structures of some of these bisphosphines have been investigated by X‐ray crystallography. The bisphosphines readily form neutral P,P‐chelate complexes [(κ2‐P,P‐L)MCl2], cationic bis‐P,P‐chelate complexes [(κ2‐P,P‐L)2M]2+, or a five‐coordinate complex [(κ2‐P,P‐L)2NiBr]Br. The electrochemical behavior of two of the nickel complexes, and their catalytic activities in electrochemical hydrogen evolution and hydrogen oxidation, including the fuel‐cell test, have been studied. 1,5‐Diaza‐3,7‐diphosphacyclooctanes with 2‐pyridyl substituents on the phosphorus atoms have been synthesized by a Mannich‐like condensation and readily form P,P‐chelate complexes (see scheme). The catalytic activity of a cationic nickel(II) bis‐P,P‐chelate complex for electrochemical hydrogen evolution was studied.