A new dinuclear Ru-Hbpp based water oxidation catalyst with a trans-disposition of the Ru-OH

The bis(2-pyridyl)ethylamine (bpea) ligand has been used as a starting material for the synthesis of dinuclear Ru complexes of general formula trans, fac-([RunX(bpea)]2(μ-bpp))m+ (for X = Cl, n = II, m = 1, trans-RuII-Cl, 1 +; for X = OH, n = III, m = 3, trans-RuIII-OH, 2 3+) where the 3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazolate anionic ligand (bpp) acts as bridging dinucleating ligand, the bpea ligand coordinates in a facial manner and the monodentate ligands X are situated in a trans fashion with regard to one another. These complexes have been characterized in solution by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, UV-vis and electrochemical techniques and in the solid state by X-ray diffraction analysis. The reaction of 1(PF6) with Ag+ generates the corresponding solvated complex where the Cl ligand has been removed as insoluble AgCl, followed by the oxidation of Ru(ii) to Ru(iii) to generate the corresponding dinuclear complex trans-RuIII-OH, 2(PF6)3. The latter has been shown to catalytically oxidize water to molecular dioxygen using Ce(iv) as oxidant. Quantitative gas evolution as a function of time has been monitored on line by both manometry and mass spectroscopy (MS) techniques. Relative initial velocities of oxygen formation together with structural considerations rule out an intramolecular O–O bond formation pathway. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.