One Site is Enough. Catalytic Water Oxidation by [Ru(tpy)(bpm)(OH₂)]²⁺ and [Ru(tpy)(bpz)(OH₂)]²⁺

Abstract

Water oxidation is a key reaction in natural photosynthesis and in many schemes for artificial photosynthesis. Although metal complexes capable of oxidizing water based on Ru, Mn, and Ir are known, a significant question is whether or not dimeric or higher order structures are required for water oxidation. We report here single-site catalytic water oxidation by the monomeric complexes [Ru(tpy)(bpm)(OH2)]2+ and [Ru(tpy)(bpz)(OH2)]2+ (tpy is 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine; bpm is 2,2′-bipyrimidine; bpz is 2,2′-bipyrazine) by a well-defined mechanism involving RuV═O.