Facile Light-Induced Transformation of [RuII(bpy)2(bpyNO)]2+ to [RuII(bpy)3]2.

Ru-based coordination compounds have important applications as photosensitizers and catalysts. [RuII(bpy)2(bpyNO)]2+ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine and bpyNO = 2,2'-bipyridine-N-oxide) was reported to be extremely light-sensitive, but its light-induced transformation pathways have not been analyzed. Here, we elucidated a mechanism of the light-induced transformation of [RuII(bpy)2(bpyNO)]2+ using UV-vis, EPR, resonance Raman, and NMR spectroscopic techniques. The spectroscopic analysis was augmented with the DFT calculations. We concluded that upon 530-650 nm light excitation, 3[RuIII(bpyNO-•)(bpy)2]2+ is formed similarly to the 3[RuIII(bpy-•)(bpy)2]2+ light-induced state of the well-known photosensitizer [RuII(bpy)3]2+. An electron localization on the bpyNO ligand was confirmed by obtaining a unique EPR signal of reduced [RuII(bpy)2(bpyNO-•)]+ (gxx = 2.02, gyy = 1.99, and gzz = 1.87 and 14N hfs Axx = 12 G, Ayy = 34 G, and Azz = 11 G). 3[RuIII(bpyNO-•)(bpy)2]2+ may evolve via breaking of the Ru-O-N fragment at two different positions resulting in [RuIV═O(bpy)2(bpyout)]2+ for breakage at the O-|-N bond and [RuII(H2O)(bpy)2(bpyNOout)]2+ for breakage at the Ru-|-O bond. These pathways were found to have comparable ΔG. A reduction of [RuIV═O(bpy)2(bpyout)]2+ may result in water elimination and formation of [RuII(bpy)3]2+. The expected intermediates, [RuIII(bpy)2(bpyNO)]3+ and [RuIII(bpy)3]3+, were detected by EPR. In addition, a new signal with gxx = 2.38, gyy = 2.10, and gzz = 1.85 was observed and tentatively assigned to a complex with the dissociated ligand, such as [RuIII(H2O)(bpy)2(bpyNOout)]3+. The spectroscopic signatures of [RuIV═O(bpy)2(bpyout)]2+ were not observed, although DFT analysis and [RuII(bpy)3]2+ formation suggest this intermediate. Thus, [RuII(bpy)2(bpyNO)]2+ has potential as a light-induced oxidizer.

Unraveling the Mechanism of Catalytic Water Oxidation via de Novo Synthesis of Reactive Intermediate.

Artificial photosynthesis could promise abundant, carbon-neutral energy, but implementation is currently limited by a lack of control over the multi-electron catalysis of water oxidation. Discoveries of the most active catalysts still rely heavily on serendipity. [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(H2O)]2+ (1; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, tpy = 2,2';6',2″-terpyridine) is representative of the largest known class of water oxidation catalysts. We undertook an extensive spectroscopic analysis of the prototypical 1 water oxidation catalyst and its fastest known analog [Ru(EtO-tpy)(bpy)(H2O)]2+ (2), capable of 10 times faster water oxidation, to investigate the mechanism of action and factors controlling catalytic activity. EPR and resonance Raman spectroscopy did not detect the proposed [RuV═O] intermediate in 1 and 2 but indicated the possible formation of N-oxides. A lag phase was observed prior to O2 evolution, suggesting catalyst modification before the onset of catalysis. The reactive intermediate [Ru(tpy)(bpy-NO)(H2O)]2+ (1-NO; bpy-NO = 2,2'-bipyridine-N-oxide) proposed by combined spectroscopic and DFT analysis was de novo synthesized and demonstrated 100-fold greater catalytic activity than 1. Thus, in situ transient formation of small amounts of the Ru complex with N-oxide ligands can significantly activate single-site Ru-based catalysts. Furthermore, the rate of O2 evolution was found to correlate with the redox potential of the ligand. This observation might assist with rational design of new catalysts.

Redox Reactivity of a Mononuclear Manganese-Oxo Complex Binding Calcium Ion and Other Redox-Inactive Metal Ions.

Mononuclear nonheme manganese(IV)-oxo complexes binding calcium ion and other redox-inactive metal ions, [(dpaq)MnIV(O)]+-M n+ (1-Mn+, M n+ = Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Lu3+, Y3+, Al3+, and Sc3+) (dpaq = 2-[bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)]amino- N-quinolin-8-yl-acetamidate), were synthesized by reacting a hydroxomanganese(III) complex, [(dpaq)MnIII(OH)]+, with iodosylbenzene (PhIO) in the presence of redox-inactive metal ions (M n+). The Mn(IV)-oxo complexes were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques. In reactivity studies, we observed contrasting effects of M n+ on the reactivity of 1-M n+ in redox reactions such as electron-transfer (ET), oxygen atom transfer (OAT), and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reactions. In the OAT and ET reactions, the reactivity order of 1-M n+, such as 1-Sc3+ ≈ 1-Al3+ > 1-Y3+ > 1-Lu3+ > 1-Zn2+ > 1-Mg2+ > 1-Ca2+, follows the Lewis acidity of M n+ bound to the Mn-O moiety; that is, the stronger the Lewis acidity of M n+, the higher the reactivity of 1-M n+ becomes. In sharp contrast, the reactivity of 1-M n+ in the HAT reaction was reversed, giving the reactivity order 1-Ca2+ > 1-Mg2+ > 1-Zn2+ > 1-Lu3+> 1-Y3+> 1-Al3+ ≈ 1-Sc3+; that is, the higher is Lewis acidity of M n+, the lower the reactivity of 1-M n+ in the HAT reaction. The latter result implies that the Lewis acidity of M n+ bound to the Mn-O moiety can modulate the basicity of the metal-oxo moiety, thus influencing the HAT reactivity of 1-M n+; cytochrome P450 utilizes the axial thiolate ligand to increase the basicity of the iron-oxo moiety, which enhances the reactivity of compound I in C-H bond activation reactions.

Mechanism for O-O Bond Formation via Radical Coupling of Metal and Ligand Based Radicals: A New Pathway.

Artificial photosynthesis carries promise to deliver abundant clean energy for the needs of a growing population. Deep mechanistic understanding is required to achieve rational design of fast and durable water oxidation catalysts. Here we provided first evidence for a new mechanism of the O-O bond formation via radical coupling of the oxidized metal═oxo of radicaloid character (RuIV═O) and ligand based radical ([ligand-NO]+• cation radical). O-O bond formation is facilitated via spin alignment and takes place via a virtually barrier less pathway inside the single metal complex. In situ reactive intermediate conversion was monitored by mass spectrometry, resonance Raman (RR) and EPR. Computational analysis have shown that the formation of [ligand-NO]+• happens at a lower overpotential than the formation of the [RuV═O(ligand)]3+ intermediate. Overall, the presented paradigm for O-O bond formation opens new opportunities for rational catalyst design.

The Key RuV=O Intermediate of Site-Isolated Mononuclear Water Oxidation Catalyst Detected by in Situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy.

Improvement of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a challenging step toward the development of sustainable energy technologies. Enhancing the OER rate and efficiency relies on understanding the water oxidation mechanism, which entails the characterization of the reaction intermediates. Very active Ru-bda type (bda is 2,2'-bipyridine-6,6'-dicarboxylate) molecular OER catalysts are proposed to operate via a transient 7-coordinate RuV═O intermediate, which so far has never been detected due to its high reactivity. Here we prepare and characterize a well-defined supported Ru(bda) catalyst on porous indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode. Site isolation of the catalyst molecules on the electrode surface allows trapping of the key 7-coordinate RuV═O intermediate at potentials above 1.34 V vs NHE at pH 1, which is characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance and in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopies. The in situ extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis shows a Ru═O bond distance of 1.75 ± 0.02 Å, consistent with computational results. Electrochemical studies and density functional theory calculations suggest that the water nucleophilic attack on the surface-bound RuV═O intermediate (O-O bond formation) is the rate limiting step for OER catalysis at low pH.

Electrochemical Water Oxidation by a Catalyst-Modified Metal-Organic Framework Thin Film.

Water oxidation, a key component in artificial photosynthesis, requires high overpotentials and exhibits slow reaction kinetics that necessitates the use of stable and efficient heterogeneous water-oxidation catalysts (WOCs). Here, we report the synthesis of UiO-67 metal-organic framework (MOF) thin films doped with [Ru(tpy)(dcbpy)OH2 ]2+ (tpy=2,2':6',2''-terpyridine, dcbpy=5,5'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine) on conducting surfaces and their propensity for electrochemical water oxidation. The electrocatalyst oxidized water with a turnover frequency (TOF) of (0.2±0.1) s-1 at 1.71 V versus the normal hydrogen electrode (NHE) in buffered solution (pH∼7) and exhibited structural and electrochemical stability. The electroactive sites were distributed throughout the MOF thin film on the basis of scan-ratedependent voltammetry studies. This work demonstrates a promising way to immobilize large concentrations of electroactive WOCs into a highly robust MOF scaffold and paves the way for future photoelectrochemical water-splitting systems.

Uncovering the Role of Oxygen Atom Transfer in Ru-Based Catalytic Water Oxidation.

The realization of artificial photosynthesis carries the promise of cheap and abundant energy, however, significant advances in the rational design of water oxidation catalysts are required. Detailed information on the structure of the catalyst under reaction conditions and mechanisms of O-O bond formation should be obtained. Here, we used a combination of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), stopped flow freeze quench on a millisecond-second time scale, X-ray absorption (XAS), resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) to follow the dynamics of the Ru-based single site catalyst, [RuII(NPM)(4-pic)2(H2O)]2+ (NPM = 4-t-butyl-2,6-di(1',8'-naphthyrid-2'-yl)pyridine, pic = 4-picoline), under the water oxidation conditions. We report a unique EPR signal with g-tensor, gx = 2.30, gy = 2.18, and gz = 1.83 which allowed us to observe fast dynamics of oxygen atom transfer from the RuIV═O oxo species to the uncoordinated nitrogen of the NPM ligand. In few seconds, the NPM ligand modification results in [RuIII(NPM-NO)(4-pic)2(H2O)]3+ and [RuIII(NPM-NO,NO)(4-pic)2]3+ complexes. A proposed [RuV(NPM)(4-pic)2═O]3+ intermediate was not detected under the tested conditions. We demonstrate that while the proximal base might be beneficial in O-O bond formation via nucleophilic water attack on an oxo species as shown by DFT, the noncoordinating nitrogen is impractical as a base in water oxidation catalysts due to its facile conversion to the N-O group. This study opens new horizons for understanding the real structure of Ru catalysts under water oxidation conditions and points toward the need to further investigate the role of the N-O ligand in promoting water oxidation catalysis.