Unveiling the structure of polytetraruthenated nickel porphyrin by Raman spectroelectrochemistry.

The structure of polytetraruthenated nickel porphyrin was unveiled for the first time by electrochemistry, Raman spectroelectrochemistry, and a hydroxyl radical trapping assay. The electrocatalytic active material, precipitated on the electrode surface after successive cycling of [NiTPyP{Ru(bipy)2Cl}4](4+) species in strong aqueous alkaline solution (pH 13), was found to be a peroxo-bridged coordination polymer. The electropolymerization process involves hydroxyl radicals (as confirmed by the characteristic set of DMPO/(•)OH adduct EPR peaks) as reaction intermediates, electrocatalytically generated in the 0.80-1.10 V range, that induce the formation of Ni-O-O-Ni coordination polymers, as evidenced by Raman spectroelectrochemistry and molecular modeling studies. The film growth is halted above 1.10 V due to the formation of oxygen gas bubbles.