Ab initio quantum mechanical characterization of platinum, palladium, and nickel complexes of L-ascorbic acid

Electronic and structural properties of diamine-M ascorbate complexes {M(asc) (N-N)} where M is nickel, palladium, or platinum are studied with the use of ab initio molecular orbital methods at different levels of theory. The properties calculated for the platinum complex are compared with the experimental and theoretical values obtained previously and the agreement between them is shown to be good. Total overlap population values show that the ascorbate acts as a chelating ligand where coordination occurs through one carbon and one oxygen atom. We also present a detailed description of the bonding in order to characterize the intramolecular interactions in the M complexes.