Electrocatalytic proton reduction: Metal based fused diporphyrins with proton relays for efficient catalysis

This project deals with the use of metal-based fused diporphyrins as electrocatalysts for HER reduction. The objectives of the proposed work are as follows: Synthesis of metal complexes (Cu, Ni) of substituted free base monoporphyrin derivatives bearing hydrophilic groups at the periphery (-CO2CH3, tert-butyl groups). Synthesis of fused diporphyrins from respective monoporphyrin derivatives. Elucidation of their geometric and electronic structures through electrochemical, spectroscopic, and X-ray diffraction analyses. Evaluation of the catalytic activity of the metal complexes in HER reduction in non-aqueous mediums. Quantification of electrocatalytic efficiency, and elucidation of mechanistic pathway to develop structure-activity correlations. Elucidation of the mechanistic pathway to determine the active intermediates.