A new dinuclear Ru-Hbpp based water oxidation catalyst with a trans-disposition of the Ru-OH.

The bis(2-pyridyl)ethylamine (bpea) ligand has been used as a starting material for the synthesis of dinuclear Ru complexes of general formula trans,fac-{[Ru(n)X(bpea)](2)(μ-bpp)}(m+) (for X = Cl, n = II, m = 1, trans-Ru(II)-Cl, 1(+); for X = OH, n = III, m = 3, trans-Ru(III)-OH, 2(3+)) where the 3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazolate anionic ligand (bpp) acts as bridging dinucleating ligand, the bpea ligand coordinates in a facial manner and the monodentate ligands X are situated in a trans fashion with regard to one another. These complexes have been characterized in solution by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, UV-vis and electrochemical techniques and in the solid state by X-ray diffraction analysis. The reaction of 1(PF(6)) with Ag(+) generates the corresponding solvated complex where the Cl ligand has been removed as insoluble AgCl, followed by the oxidation of Ru(II) to Ru(III) to generate the corresponding dinuclear complex trans-Ru(III)-OH, 2(PF(6))(3).

The Ru-Hbpp water oxidation catalyst.

A thorough characterization of the Ru-Hbpp (in,in-{[Ru(II)(trpy)(H(2)O)](2)(mu-bpp)}(3+) (trpy is 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine, bpp is bis(2-pyridyl)-3,5-pyrazolate)) water oxidation catalyst has been carried out employing structural (single crystal X-ray), spectroscopic (UV-vis and NMR), kinetic, and electrochemical (cyclic voltammetry) analyses. The latter reveals the existence of five different oxidation states generated by sequential oxidation of an initial II,II state to an ultimate, formal IV,IV oxidation state. Each of these oxidation states has been characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, and their relative stabilities are reported.

Ru complexes that can catalytically oxidize water to molecular dioxygen.

The main objective of this review is to give a general overview of the structure, electrochemistry (when available), and catalytic performance of the Ru complexes, which are capable of oxidizing water to molecular dioxygen, and to highlight their more relevant features. The description of the Ru catalysts is mainly divided into complexes that contain a Ru-O-Ru bridging group and those that do not. Finally a few conclusions are drawn from the global description of all of the catalysts presented here, and some guidelines for future catalyst design are given.

Mechanistic insights into the chemistry of RuII complexes containing Cl and DMSO ligands.

Two new isomers trans,mer-[RuIICl2(bpea)(DMSO)], 2a, and cis,fac-[RuIICl2(bpea)(DMSO)], 2b, (bpea = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylamine), as well as the bis-DMSO complex trans,fac-[RuIICl(bpea)(DMSO)2]Cl, 3, have been synthesized and characterized by cyclic voltammetry and UV-vis and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy in solution. Their solid-state structure has also been solved by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. All the three complexes display a ruthenium metal center possessing a distorted-octahedral type of coordination, where the bpea ligand is coordinated in a meridional fashion in 2a and in a facial fashion in 2b and 3.

New Ru complexes containing the N-tridentate bpea and phosphine ligands: consequences of meridional vs facial geometry.

The synthesis and isolation of the complex cis,fac-[RuIICl2(bpea)(PPh3)][3; bpea = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylamine] and three geometrical isomers of the complex [RuIICl(bpea)(dppe)](BF4) [4; dppe = (1,2-diphenylphosphino)ethane], trans,fac (4a), cis,fac (4b), and mer(down) (4c), have been described (see Chart 1 for a drawing of their structures). These complexes have been characterized through analytical, spectroscopic (IR, UV/vis, and 1D and 2D NMR), and electrochemical (cyclic voltammetry) techniques. In addition, complexes 3, 4a, and 4b have been further characterized in the solid state through monocrystal X-ray diffraction analysis.