Synthesis of an electro-catalyst based on a cobalt(II) complex with dimethylaminoethylamino-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4-tert-butyl-6-methylphenol)

A catalyst based on [LCo(H₂O)] (1) is formed by the reaction of dimethylaminoethylamino-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4-tert-butyl-6-methyl)phenol (H₂L) with CoBr₂ for electrolytic proton or water reduction. 1 catalyzes hydrogen evolution, both from acetic acid with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 17.9 mol of hydrogen per mole of catalyst per hour at an overpotential of 792 mV (in DMF) and from water with a TOF of 260 mol of hydrogen per mole of catalyst per hour at an overpotential of 889 mV (in buffer, pH 7.0).