Ce(IV)- and light-driven water oxidation by [Ru(terpy)(pic)3]2+ analogues: catalytic and mechanistic studies.

A series of mononuclear ruthenium polypyridyl complexes [Ru(Mebimpy)(pic)(3)](PF(6))(2) (2; Mebimpy = 2,6-bis(1-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine; pic = 4-picoline), Ru(bimpy)(pic)(3) (3; H(2)bimpy = 2,6-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine), trans-[Ru(terpy)(pic)(2)Cl](PF(6)) (4; terpy = 2,2';6',2"-terpyridine), and trans-[Ru(terpy)(pic)(2)(OH(2))](ClO(4))(2) (5) are synthesized and characterized as analogues of the known Ru complex, [Ru(terpy)(pic)(3)](PF(6))(2) (1). The effect of the ligands on electronic and catalytic properties is studied and discussed. The negatively charged ligand, bimpy(2-), has a remarkable influence on the electrochemical events due to its strong electron-donating ability. The performance in light- and Ce(IV)-driven (Ce(IV) = Ce(NH(4))(2)(NO(3))(6)) water oxidation is successfully demonstrated. We propose that ligand exchange between pic and H(2)O occurs to form the real catalyst, a Ru-aqua complex. The synthesis and testing of trans-[Ru(terpy)(pic)(2)(OH(2))](ClO(4))(2) (5) confirmed our proposal. In addition, complex 5 possesses the best catalytic activity among these five complexes.