title: Electrooxidation of alcohols catalyzed by amino alcohol ligated ruthenium complexes.
abstract: Ruthenium transfer hydrogenation catalysts physisorbed onto edge-plane graphite electrodes are active electrocatalysts for the oxidation of alcohols. Electrooxidation of CH3OH (1.23 M) in a buffered aqueous solution at pH 11.5 with [(η(6)-p-cymene)(η(2)-N,O-(1R,2S)-cis-1-amino-2-indanol)]Ru(II)Cl (2) on edge-plane graphite exhibits an onset current at 560 mV vs NHE. Koutecky-Levich analysis at 750 mV reveals a four-electron oxidation of methanol with a rate of 1.35 M(-1) s(-1). Mechanistic investigations by (1)H NMR, cyclic voltammetry, and desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry indicate that the electroxidation of methanol to generate formate is mediated by surface-supported Ru-oxo complexes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Stanford University , Stanford, California 94305-5080, United States.
authors.forename: Kristen R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Brownell
authors.forename: Charles C L
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: McCrory
authors.forename: Christopher E D
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Chidsey
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Richard N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Zare
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Waymouth