Synthesis, structure, and cooperative proton-electron transfer reaction of Bis(5,6-diethylpyrazinedithiolato)metal complexes (M = Ni, Pd, Pt).

New proton and electron donors, M(II)(HL)(2) (M = Ni, Pd, Pt; L = 5,6-diethylpyradzinedithiolate), as well as a proton and electron acceptor, Pt(IV)(L)(2), were prepared and characterized. The pH-dependent cyclic voltammetry of the M(II)(HL)(2) complexes revealed a favorable Gibbs free energy (K(com) > 1) for the proton and electron transfer reactions from M(II)(HL)(2) to M(IV)(L)(2); i.e., the equilibrium for the following reaction lies to the right: M(II)(HL)(2) + M(IV)(L)(2) <==>2M(III)(HL)(L).