Switching O-O bond formation mechanism between WNA and I2M pathways by modifying the Ru-bda backbone ligands of water-oxidation catalysts

Understanding the seven coordination and O-O coupling pathway of the distinguished Ru-bda catalysts is essential for the development of next generation efficient water-oxidation catalysts based on earthabundant metals.This work reports the synthesis,characterization and catalytic properties of a monomeric ruthenium catalyst Ru-bnda(H2 bnda=2,2’-bi(nicotinic acid)-6,6’-dicarboxylic acid)featuring steric hindrance and enhanced hydrophilicity on the backbone.Combining experimental evidence with systematic density functional theory calculations on the Ru-bnda and related catalysts Ru-bda(H_(2)bda=2,2’-bipyridine-6,6’-dicarboxylic acid),Ru-pda(H_(2)pda=1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxylic acid),and Ru-biqa(H_(2)biqa=(1,1’-biisoquinoline)-3,3’-dicarboxylic acid),we emphasized that seven coordination clearly determines presence of Ru^(Ⅴ)=O with high spin density on the ORu^(Ⅴ)=O atom,i.e.oxo with radical properties,which is one of the necessary conditions for reacting through the O-O coupling pathway.However,an additional factor to make the condition sufficient is the favorable intermolecular faceto-face interaction for the generation of the pre-reactive[Ru^(Ⅴ)=O…O=Ru^(Ⅴ)],which may be significantly influenced by the secondary coordination environments.This work provides a new understanding of the structure-activity relationship of water-oxidation catalysts and their potential to adopt I2M pathway for O-O bond formation.

Necessity of structural rearrangements for O-O bond formation between O5 and W2 in photosystemⅡ

Numerous aspects of the water oxidation mechanism in photosystemⅡhave not been fully elucidated,especially the O-O bond formation pathway.However,a body of experimental evidences have identified the O5 and W2 ligands of the oxygen-evolving complex as the highly probable substrate candidates.In this work,we studied O-O bond formation between O5 and W2 based on the native Mn4 Ca cluster by density functional calculations.Structural rearrangements before the formation of the S_(4) state were found as a prerequisite for O-O bond formation between O5 and W2,regardless if the suggested pathways involving the typical Mnl(Ⅳ)-O·species or the recently proposed Mn4(Ⅶ)(O)2 species.Possible alternatives for the S2→S_(3) and S_(3)→S_(4) transitions accounting for such required rearrangements are discussed.These findings reflect that the structural flexibility of the Mn4 Ca cluster is essential to allow structural rearrangements during the catalytic cycle.

Isolation and Identification of Pseudo Seven-Coordinate Ru(Ⅲ)Intermediate Completing the Catalytic Cycle of Ru-bda Type of Water Oxidation Catalysts

Isolation of RuⅢ-bda(17-electron specie)complex with an aqua ligand(2-electron donor)is challenging due to violation of the 18-electron rule.Although considerable efforts have been dedicated to mechanistic studies of water oxidation by the Ru-bda family,the structure and initial formation of the Ru^(Ⅲ)-bda aqua complex are still controversial.Herein,we challenge this often overlooked step by designing a pocketshape Ru-based complex 1.The computational studies showed that 1 possesses the crucial hydrophobicity at the Ru^(V)(O)state as well as similar probability of access of terminal O to solvent water molecules when compared with classic Ru-bda catalysts.Through characterization of single-crystal structures at the Ru^(Ⅱ) and Ru^(Ⅲ) states,a pseudo seven-coordinate“ready-togo”aqua ligand with Ru^(Ⅲ)…O distance of 3.62A was observed.This aqua ligand was also found to be part of a formed hydrogen-bonding network,providing a good indication of how the Ru^(Ⅲ)-OH_(2)complex is formed.