Xavier Sala

Molecular Catalysts that Oxidize Water to Dioxygen

During the past four years we have witnessed a revolution in the field of water-oxidation catalysis, in which well-defined molecules are opening up entirely new possibilities for the design of more rugged and efficient catalysts. This revolution has been stimulated by two factors: the urgent need for clean and renewable fuel and the intrinsic human desire to mimic natures reactions, in this case the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of the photosystem II (PSII). Herein we give a short general overview of the established basis for the oxidation of water to dioxygen as well as presenting the new developments in the field. Furthermore, we describe the new avenues these developments are opening up with regard to catalyst design and performance, together with the new questions they pose, especially from a mechanistic perspective. Finally the challenges the field is facing are also discussed.

Molecular water oxidation mechanisms followed by transition metals: state of the art.

One clean alternative to fossil fuels would be to split water using sunlight. However, to achieve this goal, researchers still need to fully understand and control several key chemical reactions. One of them is the catalytic oxidation of water to molecular oxygen, which also occurs at the oxygen evolving center of photosystem II in green plants and algae. Despite its importance for biology and renewable energy, the mechanism of this reaction is not fully understood. Transition metal water oxidation catalysts in homogeneous media offer a superb platform for researchers to investigate and extract the crucial information to describe the different steps involved in this complex reaction accurately. The mechanistic information extracted at a molecular level allows researchers to understand both the factors that govern this reaction and the ones that derail the system to cause decomposition. As a result, rugged and efficient water oxidation catalysts with potential technological applications can be developed. In this Account, we discuss the current mechanistic understanding of the water oxidation reaction catalyzed by transition metals in the homogeneous phase, based on work developed in our laboratories and complemented by research from other groups. Rather than reviewing all of the catalysts described to date, we focus systematically on the several key elements and their rationale from molecules studied in homogeneous media. We organize these catalysts based on how the crucial oxygen-oxygen bond step takes place, whether via a water nucleophilic attack or via the interaction of two M-O units, rather than based on the nuclearity of the water oxidation catalysts. Furthermore we have used DFT methodology to characterize key intermediates and transition states. The combination of both theory and experiments has allowed us to get a complete view of the water oxidation cycle for the different catalysts studied. Finally, we also describe the various deactivation pathways for these catalysts.

Oxygen-oxygen bond formation by the Ru-Hbpp water oxidation catalyst occurs solely via an intramolecular reaction pathway.

A thorough kinetics investigation of the Ru-Hbpp water oxidation catalyst has been carried out at temperatures in the range 10-40 degrees C. Four oxidative electron-transfer processes that take the catalyst from its initial II,II oxidation state up to the formal IV,IV oxidation state were kinetically characterized and the corresponding activation parameters determined. Once the IV,IV oxidation state is reached, two additional slower kinetic processes take place, corresponding to the formation of an intermediate that finally evolves oxygen and regenerates the initial Ru-Hbpp catalyst. These two kinetic processes were also fully characterized with respect to the evaluation of their rate constants and activation parameters. Furthermore, (18)O labeling experiments were performed with different degrees of labeled catalyst and solvent, and the (16)O(2)/(16)O(18)O/(18)O(2) isotopic distribution of the generated molecular oxygen was calculated. These results clearly point to the existence of a single intramolecular reaction pathway for the formation of the oxygen-oxygen bond in the case of the Ru-Hbpp catalyst.

The cis‐[RuII(bpy)2(H2O)2]2+ Water‐Oxidation Catalyst Revisited

The only operating mechanism in the oxidation of water to dioxygen catalyzed by the mononuclear cis-[RuII(bpy)2(H2O)2]2+ complex when treated with excess CeIV was unambiguously established. Theoretical calculations together with 18O-labeling experiments (see plot) revealed that it is the nucleophilic attack of water on a Ru=O group.

Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity of New Tetranuclear Ru-Hbpp-Based Water-Oxidation Catalysts

The preparation of three new octadentate tetranucleating ligands made out of two Ru-Hbpp-based units [where Hbpp is 3,5(bispyridyl)pyrazole], linked by a xylyl group attached at the pyrazolate moiety, of general formula (Hbpp)(2)-u-xyl (u = p, m, or o) is reported, together with its dinucleating counterpart substituted at the same position with a benzyl group, Hbpp-bz. All of these ligands have been characterized with the usual analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The corresponding tetranuclear ruthenium complexes of general formula {[Ru(2)(trpy)(2)(L)](2)(μ-(bpp)(2)-u-xyl)}(n+) [L = Cl or OAc, n = 4; L = (H(2)O)(2), n = 6] and their dinuclear homologues {[Ru(2)(trpy)(2)(L)](μ-bpp-bz)}(n+) [L = Cl or OAc, n = 2; L = (H(2)O)(2), n = 3] have also been prepared and thoroughly characterized both in solution and in the solid state. In solution, all of the complexes have been characterized spectroscopically by UV-vis and NMR and their redox properties investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry techniques. In the solid state, monocrystal X-ray diffraction analysis has been carried out for two dinuclear complexes {[Ru(2)(trpy)(2)(L)](μ-bpp-bz)}(2+) (L = Cl and OAc) and for the tetranuclear complex {[Ru(2)(trpy)(2)(μ-OAc)](2)(μ-(bpp)(2)-m-xyl)}(4+). The capacity of the tetranuclear aqua complexes {[Ru(2)(trpy)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](2)(μ-(bpp)(2)-u-xyl)}(6+) and the dinuclear homologue {[Ru(2)(trpy)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](μ-bpp-bz)}(3+) to act as water-oxidation catalysts has been evaluated using cerium(IV) as the chemical oxidant in pH = 1.0 triflic acid solutions. It is found that these complexes, besides generating significant amounts of dioxygen, also generate carbon dioxide. The relative ratio of [O(2)]/[CO(2)] is dependent not only on para, meta, or ortho substitution of the xylylic group but also on the concentration of the starting materials. With regard to the tetranuclear complexes, the one that contains the more sterically constrained ortho-substituted ligand generates the highest [O(2)]/[CO(2)] ratio.

DNA-cleavage induced by new macrocyclic Schiff base dinuclear Cu(I) complexes containing pyridyl pendant arms.

A new series of dinuclear Cu(I) complexes with hexaazamacrocyclic Schiff base ligand containing pyridyl pendant arms has been synthesized and characterized. The solid-state structures of [Cu(2)(I)(bsp3py)](CF(3)SO(3))(2) (1(CF(3)SO(3))(2)), [Cu(2)(I)(bsm3py)](SbF(6))(2) (2(SbF(6))(2)), and [Cu(2)(I)(bsp2py)](CF(3)SO(3))(2) (3(CF(3)SO(3))(2)) have been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The geometries of the copper centers in all three cases are almost identical showing a distorted tetrahedral coordination, very close to a trigonal pyramidal arrangement. Interactions of complexes with calf thymus DNA have been investigated by circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD) which suggests that the interaction for each complex is a nonintercalative mode with regard to DNA. The electrophoretic mobility study and the atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the presence of H(2)O(2) reveal a cleavage of pBR322 supercoiled DNA that depends on the nature of the Cu(I) complex used. The most efficient reactivity is observed for complexes 1(CF(3)SO(3))(2) and 2(CF(3)SO(3))(2) whereas complex 3(CF(3)SO(3))(2) displays a lesser reactivity. The different DNA-cleavage activity of complexes 1-3 is due the different electronic factors and complex topology induced by the natures of the different ligands. This work constitutes an example of how small modifications introduced in the macrocyclic backbone of the metal complexes lead to dramatic changes in the nuclease activity.

Palladium catalytic systems with hybrid pyrazole ligands in C–C coupling reactions. Nanoparticles versus molecular complexes

This paper reports the comparison of the chemoselectivity of two different Pd catalytic systems, namely molecular and colloidal systems, in C–C coupling reactions. For this purpose, new hybrid pyrazole derived ligands containing alkylether, alkylthioether or alkylamino moieties have been synthesized and used to form Pd(II) complexes and to stabilize Pd nanoparticles (Pd NPs). With the aim of studying the coordination mode of the ligands and further to understand their role in catalysis, both types of Pd species were characterized by appropriate techniques. In C–C coupling reactions promoted by different Pd colloidal systems, several reports evidenced that active species are molecular catalysts leached from Pd NPs. The most important feature of this work relies on the differences observed in the output of C–C coupling reactions, depending on the colloidal or molecular nature of the catalyst employed. Thus, molecular systems carry out typical Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling, together with the dehalogenation of the substrate in different proportions. In contrast, Pd NPs catalyze either Suzuki–Miyaura or C–C homocoupling reactions depending on the haloderivative used. Interestingly, Pd NPs catalyze the quantitative dehalogenation of 4-iodotoluene. Differences observed in the chemoselectivity of these two catalytic systems support that reactions carried out with Pd NPs stabilized with the hybrid pyrazole ligands employed here take place on the surface of the colloids.

Through-space ligand interactions in enantiomeric dinuclear Ru complexes.

A family of dinuclear Ru complexes containing monodentate ligands displays dynamics based on supramolecular through-space interactions. The electronic and steric nature of the monodentate ligands allow a fine tuning of the kinetic parameters of this dynamic behavior that can be monitored by variable-temperature (VT) NMR spectroscopy. Water oxidation to molecular dioxygen is a key reaction that needs to be fully understood in order to be able to design new energy-conversion schemes based on water and sunshine. Furthermore, from a biological point of view it is an important reaction that takes place at the oxygen-evolving complex of PSII. However, even though it is under thorough scrutiny its mechanisms are not fully understood. Hence the need to have low-molecular-weight functional models. While at the moment there are few well-defined complexes that have been shown to be capable of oxidizing water to molecular dioxygen even fewer of them have been studied from a mechanistic perspective. Water nucleophilic attack to a high-valent Ru=O group and intramolecular O O bond formation are the two metal-based mechanisms that have been observed so far based on experimental and theoretical grounds. While the synthetic demands for a catalyst capable of carrying out a nucleophilic water attack mechanism are relatively simple, for an intramolecular mechanism the catalysts are based on dinuclear complexes, the structures of which are extraordinarily sophisticated. Thus it is imperative to understand all the relevant aspects of such a mechanism to be able to design efficient and robust water oxidation catalysts. In this particular field, the two key challenging factors that need to be addressed are first the degree of electronic coupling between the two metal centers through the bridging ligand and second the degree and nature of the through space interactions between the active groups that provides the right conditions so that an O O bond can be formed. The present paper sheds light into the latter factor setting up the basis for further ligand/ complex design. We report here the synthesis and thorough characterization of a family of Ru–Hbpp (Hbpp =bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazole) related dinuclear Ru complexes (1–9, see Table 1) of general formula [{Ru(T)}2ACHTUNGTRENNUNG(m-bpp) ACHTUNGTRENNUNG(m-MeCOO)]n+ (T: 2,2’:6’,2’’-terpyridine (trpy) or 1,3-bis(2-pyridylimino)isoindolinato (bid )) and [{Ru(T)(L)}2ACHTUNGTRENNUNG(m-bpp)](n+1)+ (L =MeCN or substituted pyridines; see Figure 1 for the label assignment).

Molecular ruthenium complexes anchored on magnetic nanoparticles that act as powerful and magnetically recyclable stereospecific epoxidation catalysts

Two new Ru-aqua complexes containing a phosphonated trpy ligand with the general formula [Ru(trpy-P)(B)(H2O)]2+ (trpy-P is diethyl [2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridin]-4′-ylphosphonate (1); B = bpm (5a) is 2,2′-bipyrimidine; (or) B = azpy (cis- and trans-5b) is 2-phenylazopyridine) are reported. These complexes and their synthetic intermediates have been characterized by the usual analytic techniques and by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. X-ray structures of the cis and trans Ru–Cl complexes that are synthetic intermediates to the corresponding Ru-aqua complexes have also been obtained. The phosphonated complexes 4a and trans-4b have been anchored onto MNPs of Fe3O4 (6.2 ± 2 nm), via covalent bonds to generate 6a and trans-6b, respectively. These new materials have been characterized by UV-vis, IR, TEM and CV. The Ru-aqua complexes were generated in situ by dissolving the Ru–Cl complexes in water. The Ru-aqua complexes 5a and trans-5b are excellent catalysts for the epoxidation of olefins and are stereoselective for cis-alkenes such as cis-β-methylstyrene and cis-stilbene. Remarkably, the analog supported onto MNPs, 7a, displays practically the same behavior as its homogeneous counterpart. Multiple recycling experiments for the epoxidation of cis-β-methylstyrene involving magnetic decantation of the catalyst were carried out with 7a without significant loss of activity.

Dinuclear ruthenium complexes containing a new ditopic phthalazin-bis(triazole) ligand that promotes metal–metal interactions

Much attention has been paid to heterocyclic N-containing ligands due to their applicability as bridging ligands in the synthesis of redox active dinuclear metal complexes. With this aim, we report the synthesis and full characterization of a novel phthalazine-triazole ligand (1,4-bis(1-methyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)phthalazine). Moreover, we show that the phthalazine nitrogen atoms of this N-heterocyclic ligand are more reactive towards alkylating agents than the triazole groups. New ruthenium(II) complexes containing this ligand have been obtained and characterized both structurally and electrochemically. The geometry imposed by the ligand allows the placement of two ruthenium centers in very close proximity so that efficient through-space interactions take place, a concept of crucial importance for electron transfer processes.