Ligand Geometry Directs OO Bond‐Formation Pathway in Ruthenium‐Based Water Oxidation Catalyst

Abstract

It takes two: A new dinuclear Ru-OH2 complex has been prepared and serves as a water oxidation catalyst (see figure; O red, N lavender, Ru pink). Structural and kinetic analyses, as well as reactivity tests provide compelling evidence, showing that the crucial OO bond-formation steps occur through a bimolecular I2M mechanism. Furthermore, this bimolecular interaction is demonstrated for the first time using 18O-labeling experiments.