Spectroscopic, electrochemical and X-ray crystallographic properties of a novel palladium(II) complex of thioamide deprotonated di-2-pyridyl ketone thiosemicarbazone (dpktsc-H)-

The reaction between di-2-pyridyl ketone thiosemicarbazone (dpktsc) and PdCl2(CH3CN)(2), generated in situ from the reaction between PdCl2 and CH3CN, gave the unprecedented [Pd2Cl3((5)-N-py,N-im,S,N-py,N-am-dpktsc-H)]2CH(3)CN (1) complex (py = pyridine, im = imine and am = amide). The identity of 1 was confirmed via its elemental analysis and spectroscopic properties. Infrared and H-1-NMR spectra confirmed the coordination of (dpktsc-H)(-) to the palladium ions. The electronic absorption spectra measured in dmso and dmf and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT), d-d and intra-ligand charge-transfer (ILCT) electronic transitions. X-ray structural analysis on a crystal of [Pd2Cl3((5)-N-py,N-im,S,N-py,N-am-dpktsc-H)]H2O (2) grown from dmf solution of 1 confirmed its formulation and showed the solid-state structure contains a web of molecules locked via a network of non-covalent interactions. Electrochemical measurements on 1 in dmf revealed metal- and ligand-based redox processes. In contrast to the electrochemical decomposition of uncoordinated dpktsc, coordinated (dpktsc-H)(-) in 1 does not undergo electrochemical decomposition. Electrochemical titrations of 1 with p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (p-TSOH) revealed electro-catalytic proton reduction. Over-potential () of 180mV for the H-2 evolution was observed and is comparable to several molecular electro-catalysts for proton reduction. Controlled-potential electrolysis confirmed the electro-catalytic proton reduction by the Pd-complex. Electrochemical reactions of CO2 in the presence of 1 exhibited a proton dependence, and metal- and ligand-based electrochemical reaction. [GRAPHICS] .