title: Catalytic water oxidation by mononuclear Ru complexes with an anionic ancillary ligand.
abstract: Mononuclear Ru-based water oxidation catalysts containing anionic ancillary ligands have shown promising catalytic efficiency and intriguing properties. However, their insolubility in water restricts a detailed mechanism investigation. In order to overcome this disadvantage, complexes [Ru(II)(bpc)(bpy)OH2](+) (1(+), bpc = 2,2'-bipyridine-6-carboxylate, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) and [Ru(II)(bpc)(pic)3](+) (2(+), pic = 4-picoline) were prepared and fully characterized, which features an anionic tridentate ligand and has enough solubility for spectroscopic study in water. Using Ce(IV) as an electron acceptor, both complexes are able to catalyze O2-evolving reaction with an impressive rate constant. On the basis of the electrochemical and kinetic studies, a water nucleophilic attack pathway was proposed as the dominant catalytic cycle of the catalytic water oxidation by 1(+), within which several intermediates were detected by MS. Meanwhile, an auxiliary pathway that is related to the concentration of Ce(IV) was also revealed. The effect of anionic ligand regarding catalytic water oxidation was discussed explicitly in comparison with previously reported mononuclear Ru catalysts carrying neutral tridentate ligands, for example, 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (tpy). When 2(+) was oxidized to the trivalent state, one of its picoline ligands dissociated from the Ru center. The rate constant of picoline dissociation was evaluated from time-resolved UV-vis spectra.
authors: Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Lianpeng
authors: L
authors: Tong
authors: A Ken
authors: AK
authors: Inge
authors: Lele
authors: L
authors: Duan
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Xiaodong
authors: X
authors: Zou
authors: Licheng
authors: L
authors: Sun
mesh_terms: D000838:Anions / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D008024:Ligands; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012428:Ruthenium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000838:Anions; D008024:Ligands; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D014867:Water; D012428:Ruthenium