Processes for forming coordination complexes containing monosulfonated catecholate ligands

Abstract

Coordination complexes can have a metal center with at least one unsubstituted catecholate ligand and at least one monosulfonated catecholate ligand or a salt thereof bound thereto. Some coordination complexes can have a formula of DTi(L)(L), in which D is a counterion selected from NH, Li, Na, K, or any combination thereof; g ranges between 2 and 6; Lis an unsubstituted catecholate ligand; Lis a monosulfonated catecholate ligand; and x and y are non-zero numbers such that x+y=3. Methods for synthesizing such coordination complexes can include providing a neat mixture of catechol and a sub-stoichiometric amount of sulfuric acid, heating the neat mixture to form a reaction product containing catechol and a monosulfonated catechol or a salt thereof, and forming a coordination complex from the reaction product without separating the catechol and the monosulfonated catechol or the salt thereof from one another.