One goal in our research group is to synthesize a stable and efficient water oxidation catalyst for the development of artificial photosynthesis. We have recently synthesized a dinuclear Ru-complex containing the ligand H3bbpmp (2,6-bis[(2-hydroxybenzyl)-(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl]-4-methylphenol). This RuIII,III-complex displayed promising redox properties with low oxidation potentials. Unfortunately, this complex was too unstable for water oxidation. We therefore decided to structurally modify the ligand to obtain a more robust complex. The new dinuclear Ru-complex was successfully synthesized and exploratory experiments suggest that it is able to catalytically oxidize water to molecular oxygen. By using CAN (ceric ammonium nitrate) as the stoichiometric oxidant the turnover number was determined to be >300. Future work will focus on replacing the stoichiometric oxidant and drive the water oxidation by visible light.

Novel dinuclear Ru-complex for water oxidation

240th National Meeting (2010)

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