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Title: Intramolecular proton transfer boosts water oxidation catalyzed by a Ru complex

Journal Article · · Journal of the American Chemical Society
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5b06541· OSTI ID:1226070
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [6]
  1. Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), Tarragona (Spain)
  2. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
  3. Univ. de Valencia, Paterna (Spain)
  4. Yale Univ., New Haven, CT (United States)
  5. Univ. Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona (Spain)
  6. Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), Tarragona (Spain); Univ. Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona (Spain)

We introduce a new family of complexes with the general formula [Run(tda)(py)2]m+ (n = 2, m = 0, 1; n = 3, m = 1, 2+; n = 4, m = 2, 32+), with tda2– being [2,2':6',2"-terpyridine]-6,6"-dicarboxylate, including complex [RuIV(OH)(tda-κ-N3O)(py)2]+, 4H+, which we find to be an impressive water oxidation catalyst, formed by hydroxo coordination to 32+ under basic conditions. The complexes are synthesized, isolated, and thoroughly characterized by analytical, spectroscopic (UV–vis, nuclear magnetic resonance, electron paramagnetic resonance), computational, and electrochemical techniques (cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, coulometry), including solid-state monocrystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In oxidation state IV, the Ru center is seven-coordinated and diamagnetic, whereas in oxidation state II, the complex has an unbonded dangling carboxylate and is six-coordinated while still diamagnetic. With oxidation state III, the coordination number is halfway between the coordination of oxidation states II and IV. Species generated in situ have also been characterized by spectroscopic, computational, and electrochemical techniques, together with the related species derived from a different degree of protonation and oxidation states. 4H+ can be generated potentiometrically, or voltammetrically, from 32+, and both coexist in solution. While complex 32+ is not catalytically active, the catalytic performance of complex 4H+ is characterized by the foot of the wave analysis, giving an impressive turnover frequency record of 8000 s–1 at pH 7.0 and 50,000 s–1 at pH 10.0. Density functional theory calculations provide a complete description of the water oxidation catalytic cycle of 4H+, manifesting the key functional role of the dangling carboxylate in lowering the activation free energies that lead to O–O bond formation.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC00112704
OSTI ID:
1226070
Report Number(s):
BNL-108552-2015-JA; R&D Project: CO045; KC0301020
Journal Information:
Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 137, Issue 33; ISSN 0002-7863
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 217 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Energetic Effects of a Closed System Approach Including Explicit Proton and Electron Acceptors as Demonstrated by a Mononuclear Ruthenium Water Oxidation Catalyst journal August 2018
Structural evolution of the Ru-bms complex to the real water oxidation catalyst of Ru-bda: the bite angle matters journal January 2020
Recent Advances in the Development of Molecular Catalyst‐Based Anodes for Water Oxidation toward Artificial Photosynthesis journal November 2018
Fe, Ru, and Os complexes with the same molecular framework: comparison of structures, properties and catalytic activities journal January 2017
Ruthenium Water Oxidation Catalysts based on Pentapyridyl Ligands journal November 2017
Low overpotential water oxidation at neutral pH catalyzed by a copper( ii ) porphyrin journal January 2019
Control over Electrochemical Water Oxidation Catalysis by Preorganization of Molecular Ruthenium Catalysts in Self-Assembled Nanospheres journal August 2018
Towards the rational design of the Py5-ligand framework for ruthenium-based water oxidation catalysts text January 2018
O–O bond formation in ruthenium-catalyzed water oxidation: single-site nucleophilic attack vs. O–O radical coupling journal January 2017
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Mononuclear ruthenium compounds bearing N-donor and N-heterocyclic carbene ligands: structure and oxidative catalysis journal January 2017
Axial Ligand Effects of Ru-BDA Complexes in the O-O Bond Formation via the I2M Bimolecular Mechanism in Water Oxidation Catalysis: Axial Ligand Effects of Ru-BDA Complexes in the O-O Bond Formation via the I2M Bimolecular Mechanism in Water Oxidation Catalysis journal February 2019
Artificial photosynthesis: opportunities and challenges of molecular catalysts journal January 2019
A bioinspired soluble manganese cluster as a water oxidation electrocatalyst with low overpotential journal November 2017
Universal scaling relations for the rational design of molecular water oxidation catalysts with near-zero overpotential journal November 2019
Catalytic Oxidation of Water to Dioxygen by Mononuclear Ru Complexes Bearing a 2,6‐Pyridinedicarboxylato Ligand journal November 2018
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