Structure and Site Evolution of Framework Ni Species in MIL-127 MOFs for Propylene Oligomerization Catalysis.

A mixed-valence oxotrimer metal-organic framework (MOF), Ni-MIL-127, with a fully coordinated nickel atom and two iron atoms in the inorganic node, generates a missing linker defect upon thermal treatment in helium (>473 K) to engender an open coordination site on nickel which catalyzes propylene oligomerization devoid of any cocatalysts or initiators. This catalyst is stable for ∼20 h on stream at 500 kPa and 473 K, unprecedented for this chemistry. The number of missing linkers on synthesized and activated Ni-MIL-127 MOFs is quantified using temperature-programmed oxidation, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy to be ∼0.7 missing linkers per nickel; thus, a majority of Ni species in the MOF framework catalyze propylene oligomerization. In situ NO titrations under reaction conditions enumerate ∼62% of the nickel atoms as catalytically relevant to validate the defect density upon thermal treatment. Propylene oligomerization rates on Ni-MIL-127 measured at steady state have activation energies of 55-67 kJ mol-1 from 448 to 493 K and are first-order in propylene pressures from 5 to 550 kPa. Density functional theory calculations on cluster models of Ni-MIL-127 are employed to validate the plausibility of the missing linker defect and the Cossee-Arlman mechanism for propylene oligomerization through comparisons between apparent activation energies from steady-state kinetics and computation. This study illustrates how MOF precatalysts engender defective Ni species which exhibit reactivity and stability characteristics that are distinct and can be engineered to improve catalytic activity for olefin oligomerization.

Light-Driven Hydrodefluorination of Electron-Rich Aryl Fluorides by an Anionic Rhodium-Gallium Photoredox Catalyst.

An anionic Rh-Ga complex catalyzed the hydrodefluorination of challenging C-F bonds in electron-rich aryl fluorides and trifluoromethylarenes when irradiated with violet light in the presence of H2 , a stoichiometric alkoxide base, and a crown-ether additive. Based on theoretical calculations, the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), which is delocalized across both the Rh and Ga atoms, becomes singly occupied upon excitation, thereby poising the Rh-Ga complex for photoinduced single-electron transfer (SET). Stoichiometric and control reactions support that the C-F activation is mediated by the excited anionic Rh-Ga complex. After SET, the proposed neutral Rh0 intermediate was detected by EPR spectroscopy, which matched the spectrum of an independently synthesized sample. Deuterium-labeling studies corroborate the generation of aryl radicals during catalysis and their subsequent hydrogen-atom abstraction from the THF solvent to generate the hydrodefluorinated arene products. Altogether, the combined experimental and theoretical data support an unconventional bimetallic excitation that achieves the activation of strong C-F bonds and uses H2 and base as the terminal reductant.

Beyond Radical Rebound: Methane Oxidation to Methanol Catalyzed by Iron Species in Metal-Organic Framework Nodes.

Recent work has exploited the ability of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to isolate Fe sites that mimic the structures of sites in enzymes that catalyze selective oxidations at low temperatures, opening new pathways for the valorization of underutilized feedstocks such as methane. Questions remain as to whether the radical-rebound mechanism commonly invoked in enzymatic and homogeneous systems also applies in these rigid-framework materials, in which resisting the overoxidation of desired products is a major challenge. We demonstrate that MOFs bearing Fe(II) sites within Fe3-µ3-oxo nodes active for conversion of CH4 + N2O mixtures (368-408 K) require steps beyond the radical-rebound mechanism to protect the desired CH3OH product. Infrared spectra and density functional theory show that CH3OH(g) is stabilized as Fe(III)-OCH3 groups on the MOF via hydrogen atom transfer with Fe(III)-OH groups, eliminating water. Consequently, upon addition of a protonic zeolite in inter- and intrapellet mixtures with the MOF, we observed increases in CH3OH selectivity with increasing ratio and proximity of zeolitic H+ to MOF-based Fe(II) sites, as methanol is protected within the zeolite. We infer from the data that CH3OH(g) is formed via the radical-rebound mechanism on Fe(II) sites but that subsequent transport and dehydration steps are required to protect CH3OH(g) from overoxidation. The results demonstrate that the radical-rebound mechanism commonly invoked in this chemistry is insufficient to explain the reactivity of these systems, that the selectivity-controlling steps involve both chemical and physical rate phenomena, as well as offering a strategy to mitigate overoxidation in these and similar systems.

Site Densities, Rates, and Mechanism of Stable Ni/UiO-66 Ethylene Oligomerization Catalysts.

Nickel-functionalized UiO-66 metal organic frameworks (MOFs) oligomerize ethylene in the absence of cocatalysts or initiators after undergoing ethylene-pressure-dependent transients and maintain stable oligomerization rates for >15 days on stream. Higher ethylene pressures shorten induction periods and engender more active sites for ethylene oligomerization; these sites exhibit invariant selectivity-conversion characteristics to justify that only one type of catalytic center is relevant for oligomerization. The number of active sites is estimated using in situ NO titration to disambiguate the effect of increased reaction rates upon exposure to increasing ethylene pressures. After accounting for augmented site densities with increasing ethylene pressures, ethylene oligomerization is first order in ethylene pressure from 100 to 1800 kPa with an activation energy of 81 kJ mol-1 at temperatures from 443-503 K on Ni/UiO-66. A representative Ni/UiO-66 cluster model that mimics high ethylene pressure process conditions is validated with ab initio thermodynamic analysis, and the Cossee-Arlman mechanism is posited based on comparisons between experimental and computed activation enthalpies from density functional theory calculations on these cluster models of Ni/UiO-66. The insights gained from experiment and theory help rationalize evolution in structure and stability for ethylene oligomerization Ni/UiO-66 MOF catalysts.

Cooperative Bond Activation and Facile Intramolecular Aryl Transfer of Nickel-Aluminum Pincer-type Complexes.

Pincer-type nickel-aluminum complexes were synthesized using two equivalents of the phosphinoamide, [PhNCH2 Pi Pr2 ]- . The Ni0 -AlIII complexes, {(Mes PAlP)Ni}2 (µ-N2 ) and {(Mes PAlP)Ni}2 (µ-COD), where Mes PAlP is (Mes)Al(NPhCH2 Pi Pr2 )2 , were structurally characterized. The (PAlP)Ni system exhibited cooperative bond cleavage mediated by the two-site Ni-Al unit, including oxidative addition of aryl halides, H2 activation, and ortho-directed C-H bond activation of pyridine N-oxide. One intriguing reaction is the reversible intramolecular transfer of the mesityl ring from the Al to the Ni site, which is evocative of the transmetalation step during cross-coupling catalysis. The aryl-transfer product,(THF)Al(NPhCH2 Pi Pr2 )2 Ni(Mes), is the first example of a first-row transition metal-aluminyl pincer complex. The addition of a judicious donor enables the Al metalloligand to convert reversibly between the alane and aluminyl forms via aryl group transfer to and from Ni, respectively. Theoretical calculations support a zwitterionic Niδ- -Alδ+ electronic structure in the nickel-aluminyl complex.

Catalytic Hydrogenolysis of Aryl C-F Bonds Using a Bimetallic Rhodium-Indium Complex.

A homogeneous rhodium-indium catalyst hydrodefluorinates substrates bearing strong aryl C-F bonds, including difluoro- and fluorobenzene, using 1 atm of H2, alkoxide bases, and moderate temperatures (70-90 °C). Characterization of catalytic intermediates establishes a formal Rh-I/RhI redox cycle. The Rh → In interaction is proposed to enable catalysis by stabilizing the reactive Rh-I species, which is responsible for cleaving the Ar-F bond and is ultimately regenerated using H2 and base.

Rare-Earth Supported Nickel Catalysts for Alkyne Semihydrogenation: Chemo- and Regioselectivity Impacted by the Lewis Acidity and Size of the Support.

Bimetallic catalysts of nickel(0) with a trivalent rare-earth ion or Ga(III), NiML3 (where L is [iPr2PCH2NPh]-, and M is Sc, Y, La, Lu, or Ga), were investigated for the selective hydrogenation of diphenylacetylene (DPA) to (E)-stilbene. Each bimetallic complex features a relatively short Ni-M bond length, ranging from 2.3395(8) Å (Ni-Ga) to 2.5732(4) Å (Ni-La). The anodic peak potentials of the NiML3 complexes vary from -0.48 V to -1.23 V, where the potentials are negatively correlated with the Lewis acidity of the M(III) ion. Three catalysts, Ni-Y, Ni-Lu, and Ni-Ga, showed nearly quantitative conversions in the semihydrogenation of DPA, with NiYL3 giving the highest selectivity for (E)-stilbene. Initial rate studies were performed on the two tandem catalytic reactions: DPA hydrogenation and (Z)-stilbene isomerization. The catalytic activity in DPA hydrogenation follows the order Ni-Ga > Ni-La > Ni-Y > Ni-Lu > Ni-Sc. The ranking of catalysts by (Z)-stilbene isomerization initial rates is Ni-Ga ≫ Ni-Sc > Ni-Lu > Ni-Y > Ni-La. In operando 31P and 1H NMR studies revealed that in the presence of DPA, the Ni bimetallic complexes supported by Y, Lu, and La form the Ni(η2-alkyne) intermediate, (η2-PhC≡CPh)Ni(iPr2PCH2NPh)2M(κ2-iPr2PCH2NPh). In contrast, the Ni-Ga resting state is the Ni(η2-H2) species, and Ni-Sc showed no detectable binding of either substrate. Hence, the mechanism of Ni-catalyzed diphenylacetylene semihydrogenation adheres to two different kinetics: an autotandem pathway (Ni-Ga, Ni-Sc) versus temporally separated tandem reactions (Ni-Y, Ni-Lu, Ni-La). Collectively, the experimental results demonstrate that modulating a base-metal center via a covalently appended Lewis acidic support is viable for promoting selective alkyne semihydrogenation.

Bioinspired Nickel Complexes Supported by an Iron Metalloligand.

Nature utilizes multimetallic sites in metalloenzymes to enable multielectron chemical transformations at ambient conditions and low overpotentials. One such example of multimetallic cooperativity can be found in the C-cluster of Ni-carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH), which interconverts CO and CO2. Toward a potential functional model of the C-cluster, a family of Ni-Fe bimetallic complexes was synthesized that contain direct metal-metal bonding interactions. The complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography, various spectroscopies (NMR, EPR, UV-vis, Mössbauer), and theoretical calculations. The Ni-Fe bimetallic system has a reversible Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple at -2.10 V (vs Fc+/Fc). The Fe-based "redox switch" can turn on CO2 reactivity at the Ni(0) center by leveraging the Ni→Fe dative interaction to attenuate the Ni(0) electron density. The reduced Ni(0)Fe(II) species mediated the formal two-electron reduction of CO2 to CO, providing a Ni-CO adduct and CO32- as products. During the reaction, an intermediate was observed that is proposed to be a Ni-CO2 species.

Structure, Dynamics, and Reactivity for Light Alkane Oxidation of Fe(II) Sites Situated in the Nodes of a Metal-Organic Framework.

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs), with their crystalline, porous structures, can be synthesized to incorporate a wide range of catalytically active metals in tailored surroundings. These materials have potential as catalysts for conversion of light alkanes, feedstocks available in large quantities from shale gas that are changing the economics of manufacturing commodity chemicals. Mononuclear high-spin (S = 2) Fe(II) sites situated in the nodes of the MOF MIL-100(Fe) convert propane via dehydrogenation, hydroxylation, and overoxidation pathways in reactions with the atomic oxidant N2O. Pair distribution function analysis, N2 adsorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction patterns, and infrared and Raman spectra confirm the single-phase crystallinity and stability of MIL-100(Fe) under reaction conditions (523 K in vacuo, 378-408 K C3H8 + N2O). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations illustrate a reaction mechanism for the formation of 2-propanol, propylene, and 1-propanol involving the oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III) via a high-spin Fe(IV)═O intermediate. The speciation of Fe(II) and Fe(III) in the nodes and their dynamic interchange was characterized by in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and ex situ Mössbauer spectroscopy. The catalytic relevance of Fe(II) sites and the number of such sites were determined using in situ chemical titrations with NO. N2 and C3H6 production rates were found to be first-order in N2O partial pressure and zero-order in C3H8 partial pressure, consistent with DFT calculations that predict the reaction of Fe(II) with N2O to be rate determining. DFT calculations using a broken symmetry method show that Fe-trimer nodes affecting reaction contain antiferromagnetically coupled iron species, and  highlight the importance of stabilizing high-spin (S = 2) Fe(II) species for effecting alkane oxidation at low temperatures (<408 K).

Multiple Bonds in Uranium-Transition Metal Complexes.

Novel heterobimetallic complexes featuring a uranium atom paired with a first-row transition metal have been computationally predicted and analyzed using density functional theory and multireference wave function based methods. The synthetically inspired metalloligands U{(iPr2PCH2NAr)3tacn} (1) and U(iPr2PCH2NPh)3 (2) are explored in this study. We report the presence of multiple bonds between uranium and chromium, uranium and manganese, and uranium and iron. The calculations predict a 5-fold bonding between uranium and manganese in the UMn(iPr2PCH2NPh)3 complex, which is unprecedented in the literature.

Enhanced Fe-Centered Redox Flexibility in Fe-Ti Heterobimetallic Complexes.

Previously, we reported the synthesis of Ti[N( o-(NCH2P( iPr)2)C6H4)3] and the Fe-Ti complex, FeTi[N( o-(NCH2P( iPr)2)C6H4)3], abbreviated as TiL (1), and FeTiL (2), respectively. Herein, we describe the synthesis and characterization of the complete redox families of the monometallic Ti and Fe-Ti compounds. Cyclic voltammetry studies on FeTiL reveal both reduction and oxidation processes at -2.16 and -1.36 V (versus Fc/Fc+), respectively. Two isostructural redox members, [FeTiL]+ and [FeTiL]- (2ox and 2red, respectively) were synthesized and characterized, along with BrFeTiL (2-Br) and the monometallic [TiL]+ complex (1ox). The solid-state structures of the [FeTiL]+/0/- series feature short metal-metal bonds, ranging from 1.94-2.38 Å, which are all shorter than the sum of the Ti and Fe single-bond metallic radii (cf. 2.49 Å). To elucidate the bonding and electronic structures, the complexes were characterized with a host of spectroscopic methods, including NMR, EPR, and 57Fe Mössbauer, as well as Ti and Fe K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). These studies, along with hybrid density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations, suggest that the redox processes in the isostructural [FeTiL]+,0,- series are primarily Fe-based and that the polarized Fe-Ti π-bonds play a role in delocalizing some of the additional electron density from Fe to Ti (net 13%).

Well-Defined Rhodium-Gallium Catalytic Sites in a Metal-Organic Framework: Promoter-Controlled Selectivity in Alkyne Semihydrogenation to E-Alkenes.

Promoters are ubiquitous in industrial heterogeneous catalysts. The wider roles of promoters in accelerating catalysis and/or controlling selectivity are, however, not well understood. A model system has been developed where a heterobimetallic active site comprising an active metal (Rh) and a promoter ion (Ga) is preassembled and delivered onto a metal-organic framework (MOF) support, NU-1000. The Rh-Ga sites in NU-1000 selectively catalyze the hydrogenation of acyclic alkynes to E-alkenes. The overall stereoselectivity is complementary to the well-known Lindlar's catalyst, which generates Z-alkenes. The role of the Ga in promoting this unusual selectivity is evidenced by the lack of semihydrogenation selectivity when Ga is absent and only Rh is present in the active site.

Formal Nickelate(-I) Complexes Supported by Group†13 Ions.

Formal nickelate(-I) complexes bearing Group 13 metalloligands (M=Al and Ga) were isolated. These 17 e- complexes were synthesized by one-electron reduction of the corresponding Ni0 →MIII precursors, and were investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, EPR spectroscopy, and quantum chemical calculations. Collectively, the experimental and computational data support: 1) the strengthening of the Ni-M bond upon one-electron reduction, and 2) the delocalization of the unpaired spin across the Ni and M atoms. An intriguing electronic configuration is revealed where three valence electrons occupy two σ-type bonding interactions: Ni(3dz2 )2 →M and σ-(Ni-M)1 . The latter is an unusual Ni-M σ-bonding molecular orbital that comprises primarily the Ni 4pz and M npz /ns atomic orbitals.

Stable Dihydrogen Complexes of Cobalt(-I) Suggest an Inverse trans-Influence of Lewis Acidic Group 13 Metalloligands.

A triad of d10 cobalt dihydrogen complexes was synthesized by utilizing Lewis acidic group 13 metalloligands, M[N((o-C6H4)NCH2PiPr2)3], where M = Al, Ga, and In. These complexes have formal Co(-I) oxidation states, representing the only coordination complexes in which dihydrogen is bound to a subvalent transition metal center. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction and NMR studies support the assignment of these complexes as nonclassical dihydrogen adducts of Co(-I).

A Bimetallic Nickel-Gallium Complex Catalyzes CO2 Hydrogenation via the Intermediacy of an Anionic d10 Nickel Hydride.

Large-scale CO2 hydrogenation could offer a renewable stream of industrially important C1 chemicals while reducing CO2 emissions. Critical to this opportunity is the requirement for inexpensive catalysts based on earth-abundant metals instead of precious metals. We report a nickel-gallium complex featuring a Ni(0)→Ga(III) bond that shows remarkable catalytic activity for hydrogenating CO2 to formate at ambient temperature (3150 turnovers, turnover frequency = 9700 h-1), compared with prior homogeneous Ni-centered catalysts. The Lewis acidic Ga(III) ion plays a pivotal role in stabilizing catalytic intermediates, including a rare anionic d10 Ni hydride. Structural and in situ characterization of this reactive intermediate support a terminal Ni-H moiety, for which the thermodynamic hydride donor strength rivals those of precious metal hydrides. Collectively, our experimental and computational results demonstrate that modulating a transition metal center via a direct interaction with a Lewis acidic support can be a powerful strategy for promoting new reactivity paradigms in base-metal catalysis.

Assembly of dicobalt and cobalt-aluminum oxide clusters on metal-organic framework and nanocast silica supports.

NU-1000, a mesoporous metal-organic framework (MOF) featuring hexazirconium oxide nodes and 3 nm wide channels, was infiltrated with a reactive dicobalt complex to install dicobalt active sites onto the MOF nodes. The anchoring of the dicobalt complex onto NU-1000 occurred with a nearly ideal stoichiometry of one bimetallic complex per node and with the cobalt evenly distributed throughout the MOF particle. To access thermally robust multimetallic sites on an all-inorganic support, the modified NU-1000 materials containing either the dicobalt complex, or an analogous cobalt-aluminum species, were nanocast with silica. The resulting materials feature Co2 or Co-Al bimetallated hexazirconium oxide clusters within a silica matrix. The cobalt-containing materials are competent catalysts for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde. Catalytic activity depends on the number of cobalt ions per node, but does not vary significantly between the NU-1000 and silica supports. Hence, the multimetallic oxide clusters remain site-isolated and substrate-accessible within the nanocast materials.

Thermal Stabilization of Metal-Organic Framework-Derived Single-Site Catalytic Clusters through Nanocasting.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) provide convenient systems for organizing high concentrations of single catalytic sites derived from metallic or oxo-metallic nodes. However, high-temperature processes cause agglomeration of these nodes, so that the single-site character and catalytic activity are lost. In this work, we present a simple nanocasting approach to provide a thermally stable secondary scaffold for MOF-based catalytic single sites, preventing their aggregation even after exposure to air at 600 °C. We describe the nanocasting of NU-1000, a MOF with 3 nm channels and Lewis-acidic oxozirconium clusters, with silica. By condensing tetramethylorthosilicate within the NU-1000 pores via a vapor-phase HCl treatment, a silica layer is created on the inner walls of NU-1000. This silica layer provides anchoring sites for the oxozirconium clusters in NU-1000 after the organic linkers are removed at high temperatures. Differential pair distribution functions obtained from synchrotron X-ray scattering confirmed that isolated oxozirconium clusters are maintained in the heated nanocast materials. Pyridine adsorption experiments and a glucose isomerization reaction demonstrate that the clusters remain accessible to reagents and maintain their acidic character and catalytic activity even after the nanocast materials have been heated to 500-600 °C in air. Density functional theory calculations show a correlation between the Lewis acidity of the oxozirconium clusters and their catalytic activity. The ability to produce MOF-derived materials that retain their catalytic properties after exposure to high temperatures makes nanocasting a useful technique for obtaining single-site catalysts suitable for high-temperature reactions.

Configuring bonds between first-row transition metals.

Alfred Werner, who pioneered the field of coordination chemistry, envisioned coordination complexes as a single, transition metal atom at the epicenter of a vast ligand space. The idea that the locus of a coordination complex could be shared by multiple metals held together with covalent bonds would eventually lead to the discovery of the quadruple and quintuple bond, which have no analogues outside of the transition metal block. Metal-metal bonding can be classified into homometallic and heterometallic groups. Although the former is dominant, the latter is arguably more intriguing because of the inherently larger chemical space in which metal-metal bonding can be explored. In 2013, Lu and Thomas independently reported the isolation of heterometallic multiple bonds with exclusively first-row transition metals. Structural and theoretical data supported triply bonded Fe-Cr and Fe-V cores. This Account describes our continued efforts to configure bonds between first-row transition metals from titanium to copper. Double-decker ligands, or binucleating platforms that brace two transition metals in proximity, have enabled the modular synthesis of diverse metal-metal complexes. The resulting complexes are also ideal for investigating the effects of an "ancillary" metal on the properties and reactivities of an "active" metal center. A total of 38 bimetallic complexes have been compiled comprising 18 unique metal-metal pairings. Twenty-one of these bimetallics are strictly isostructural, allowing for a systematic comparison of metal-metal bonding. The nature of the chemical bond between first-row metals is remarkably variable and depends on two primary factors: the total d-electron count, and the metals' relative d-orbital energies. Showcasing the range of covalent bonding are a quintuply bonded (d-d)(10) Mn-Cr heterobimetallic and the singly bonded late-late pairings, e.g., Fe-Co, which adopt unusually high spin states. A long-term goal is to rationally tailor the properties and reactivities of the bimetallic complexes. In some cases, synergistic redox and magnetic properties were found that are different from the expected sum of the individual metals. Intermetal charge transfer was shown in a Co-M series, for M = Mn to Cu, where the transition energy decreases as M is varied across the first-row period. The potential of using metal-metal complexes for multielectron reduction of small-molecules is addressed by N2 binding studies and a mechanistic study of a dicobalt catalyst in reductive silylation of N2 to N(SiMe3)3. Finally, metal-ion exchange reactions with metal-metal complexes can be selective under appropriate reaction conditions, providing an alternative synthetic route to metal-metal species.

Redox Pairs of Diiron and Iron-Cobalt Complexes with High-Spin Ground States.

A series of iron and iron-cobalt bimetallic complexes were isolated: LFe2Cl (1), LFe2 (2), Li(THF)3[LFe2Cl](Li(THF)3[2-Cl]), LFeCoCl (3), and LFeCo (4), where L is a trianionic tris(phosphineamido)amine ligand. As elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies and quantum-chemical calculations, the FeIIFeII and FeIICoII complexes, 1 and 3, respectively, have weak metal-metal interactions (the metal-metal distances are 2.63 and 2.59 Å, respectively) with a partial bond order of 0.5. The formally mixed-valent complexes, FeIIFeI (3) and FeIICoI (4), have short metal-metal bonds (2.32 and 2.26 Å, respectively) with a formal bond order of 1.5. On the basis of magnetic susceptibility measurements, complexes 1-4 are all paramagnetic with high-spin ground states, S = 3-4, which are proposed to arise from ferromagnetic coupling of the two metals' spins through a direct exchange mechanism. Zero- and applied-field Mössbauer spectra corroborate the presence of distinct oxidation and spin states for the iron sites. The reduction potentials of 1 and 3 are -1.48 and -1.60 V (vs Fc+/Fc), respectively. Other characterization data are also reported for this series of complexes, electronic absorption spectra and anomalous X-ray scattering data.

Tuning Nickel with Lewis Acidic Group 13 Metalloligands for Catalytic Olefin Hydrogenation.

A series of bimetallic complexes pairing zero-valent nickel with group 13 M(III) ions is reported. Stronger Ni→M(III) dative bonds that render Ni more electron-deficient are seen for larger ions (In > Ga > Al). The larger Ga and In ions stabilize rare, nonclassical Ni-H2 adducts that catalyze olefin hydrogenation. In contrast, neither the Ni-Al complex nor a single nickel center enables H2 binding or olefin hydrogenation. By comparison of the structures, redox properties, and catalytic activities of the Ni-M series, the electronic and steric effects of the supporting metal ion are elucidated.