LAUSR

Abstract A new material for both magnetic coupling and electrocatalytic hydrogen generation based on a copper complex, [(HL)CuCl-CuCl(HL)]HCl 1 is prepared by the reaction of 2-(pyridylmethyl)amino-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4,6-difluorophenol) (H2L) and CuCl2·2H2O. In solid, complex 1 is built from two copper units ([(HL)CuCl]), and exhibits an antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between copper (II) ions (J =−160 cm−1). In liquid, 1 can electrocatalyze hydrogen generation both from acetic acid with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 16.3 moles of hydrogen per mole of catalyst per hour at an overpotential (OP) of 941.6 mV (in DMF), and a neutral buffer with a TOF of 1415.6 moles of hydrogen per mole of catalyst per hour at an OP of 787.6 mV.