Efficient Hydrolytic Hydrogen Evolution from Sodium Borohydride Catalyzed by Polymer Immobilized Ionic Liquid-Stabilized Platinum Nanoparticles

Platinum nanoparticles stabilized by imidazolium-based phosphine-decorated Polymer Immobilized Ionic Liquids (PPh2-PIIL) catalyze the hydrolytic evolution of hydrogen from sodium borohydride with remarkable efficiency, under mild conditions. The composition of the polymer influences efficiency with the catalyst based on a polyethylene glycol modified imidazolium monomer (PtNP@PPh2-PEGPIILS) more active than its N-alkylated counterpart (PtNP@PPh2-N-decylPIILS). The maximum initial TOF of 169 moleH(2).molcat(-1).min(-1) obtained at 30 degrees C with a catalyst loading of 0.08 mol% is among the highest to be reported for the aqueous phase hydrolysis of sodium borohydride catalyzed by a PtNP-based system. Kinetic studies revealed that the apparent activation energy (E-a) of 23.9 kJ mol(-1) for the hydrolysis of NaBH4 catalyzed by PtNP@PPh2-PEGPIILS is significantly lower than that of 35.6 kJ mol(-1) for PtNP@PPh2-N-decylPIILS. Primary kinetic isotope effects k(H)/k(D) of 1.8 and 2.1 obtained with PtNP@PPh2-PEGPIILS and PtNP@PPh2-N-decylPIILS, respectively, for the hydrolysis with D2O support a mechanism involving rate determining oxidative addition or sigma-bond metathesis of the O-H bond. Catalyst stability and reuse studies showed that PtNP@PPh2-PEGPIILS retained 70 % of its activity across five runs; the gradual drop in conversion appears to be due to poisoning of the catalyst by the accumulated metaborate product as well as the increased viscosity of the reaction mixture.