Ru complexes containing pyridine dicarboxylate ligands: electronic effects on their catalytic activity toward water oxidation
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Updated: May 23, 2026

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics
Published on: April 12, 2019
Junxue An1, Lele Duan, Licheng Sun
1Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract:
Two series of mononuclear ruthenium complexes [Ru(pdc)L3] (H2pdc = 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid; L = 4-methoxypyridine, 1; pyridine, 2; pyrazine, 3) and [Ru(pdc)L2(dmso)] (dmso = dimethyl sulfoxide; L = 4-methoxypyridine, 4; pyridine, 5) were synthesized and spectroscopically characterized. Their catalytic activity toward water oxidation has been examined using Ce(IV) (Ce(NH4)2(NO3)6) as the chemical oxidant under acidic conditions. Complexes 1, 2 and 3 are capable of catalyzing Ce(IV)-driven water oxidation while 4 and 5 are not active. Electronic effects on their catalytic activity were illustrated: electron donating groups increase the catalytic activity.
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