Water Oxidation by Single‐Site Ruthenium Complexes: Using Ligands as Redox and Proton Transfer Mediators

Abstract

Light me up: Through the use of an imidazole motif it is possible to introduce a combined redox and proton-transfer mediator into single-site ruthenium water-oxidation catalysts. With the complex (see picture), high turnover numbers and high initial turnover frequencies were attained with the mild oxidant [Ru(bpy)3]3+ (bpy=2,2′-bipyridine).