A New Ru Complex Capable of Catalytically Oxidizing Water to Molecular Dioxygen

• DOI: 10.1021/ja0486824
• Publication Date: 2004-06-23T04:30:00Z
• Authors: Cristina Sens; Isabel Romero; Montserrat Rodríguez; Antoni Llobet; Teodor Parella; Jordi Benet-Buchholz
• Keywords: Oxidizing agent; Molecular oxygen

We have prepared three new dinuclear ruthenium complexes having the formulas [Ru2II(bpp)(trpy)2(μ-L)]2+ (L = Cl, 1; L AcO, 2) and [Ru2II(bpp)(trpy)2(H2O)2]3+ (3). The been characterized through usual spectroscopic electrochemical techniques and, in cases of 1 2, X-ray crystal structures solved. In aqueous acidic solution, acetato bridge 2 is replaced by aqua ligands, generating bis(aqua) complex 3 which, upon oxidation to its RuIVRuIV state, has shown catalytically oxidize water molecular oxygen. measured pseudo-first-order rate constant for O2-evolving process 1.4 × 10-2 s-1, more than times larger higher one previously reported Ru−O−Ru type catalysts. This water-splitting catalyst also improved stability with regard any described, achieving a total 18.6 metal cycles.