Mechanistic insights into catalytic [H.sub.2]oxidation by Ni complexes containing a diphosphine ligand with a positioned amine base

The mixed-ligand complex [Ni(dppp)([P.sub.2.sup.Ph][N.sub.2.sup.Bz])][(B[F.sub.4]).sub.2] (where )([P.sub.2.sup.Ph][N.sub.2.sup.Bz] is 1,5-dibenzyl-3,7-diphenyl-1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane and dppp is 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane) is prepared and its treatment with [H.sub.2] and triethylamine has resulted in the formation of [Ni.sup.0] complex. The mixed-ligand complex is a catalyst for the electrochemical oxidation of [H.sub.2] in the presence of base and new insights are presented for the mechanism derived from low-temperature NMR and thermodynamic studies.