Further observations on water oxidation catalyzed by mononuclear Ru(II) complexes

A family of 28 mononuclear Ru(II) complexes have been prepared and characterized by (1)H NMR, electronic absorption, and cyclic voltammetry. These complexes are studied as catalysts for water oxidation. All the catalysts possess one tridentate ligand, closely related to 2,2';6,2''-terpyridine (tpy) and may be divided into two basic types. In the type-1 catalyst, the three remaining coordination sites are occupied by a bidentate closely related to 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) and a monodentate halogen (Br, Cl, or I) or water molecule. In the type-2 catalyst, the three remaining coordination sites are occupied by two axial 4-picoline molecules and an equatorial halogen or water. In general the type-2 catalysts are more reactive than the type-1. The type-2 iodo-catalyst shows first-order behavior and, unlike the bromo- and chloro-catalysts, does not require water-halogen exchange to show good activity. The importance of steric strain and hindrance around the metal center is examined. The introduction of three t-butyl groups at the 4, 4', and 4'' positions of tpy sometimes improves catalyst activity, but the effect does not appear to be additive.