Red-light-driven photocatalytic reduction of CO2 using Os(II)-Re(I) supramolecular complexes

Antagonizing STAT5B dimerization with an osmium complex

Targeting STAT5 is an appealing therapeutic strategy for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and inflammation. Here, we present the novel osmium(II) complex 1 as the first metal-based inhibitor of STAT5B dimerization. Complex 1 exhibited superior inhibitory activity against STAT5B DNA binding compared to STAT5A DNA binding. Moreover, 1 repressed STAT5B transcription and blocked STAT5B dimerization via binding to the STAT5B protein, thereby inhibiting STAT5B translocation to the nucleus. Furthermore, 1 was able to selectively inhibit STAT5B phosphorylation without affecting the expression level of STAT5B.

Photoelectrochemical Reduction of CO2 Coupled to Water Oxidation Using a Photocathode with a Ru(II)-Re(I) Complex Photocatalyst and a CoOx/TaON Photoanode

Photoelectrochemical CO₂ reduction activity of a hybrid photocathode, based on a Ru(II)-Re(I) supramolecular metal complex photocatalyst immobilized on a NiO electrode (NiO-RuRe), was confirmed in an aqueous electrolyte solution. Under half-reaction conditions, the NiO-RuRe photocathode generated CO with high selectivity, and its turnover number for CO formation reached 32 based on the amount of immobilized RuRe. A photoelectrochemical cell comprising a NiO-RuRe photocathode and a CoO_x/TaON photoanode showed activity for visible-light-driven CO₂ reduction using water as a reductant to generate CO and O₂, with the assistance of an external electrical (0.3 V) and chemical (0.10 V) bias produced by a pH difference. This is the first example of a molecular and semiconductor photocatalyst hybrid-constructed photoelectrochemical cell for visible-light-driven CO₂ reduction using water as a reductant.

Photo-reduction of CO2 Using a Rhenium Complex Covalently Supported on a Graphene/TiO2 Composite

One of the promising solutions for decreasing atmospheric CO2 is artificial photosynthesis, in which CO2 can be photoconverted into solar fuels. In this study, a rhenium complex Re(PyBn)(CO)3 Cl (PyBn=1-(2-picolyl)-4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole) was covalently grafted onto the surface of reduced graphene oxide (rGO). This was further combined with TiO2 to fabricate a novel catalyst composite TiO2 -rGO-Re(PyBn)(CO)3 Cl for CO2 photo-reduction. This hybrid composite demonstrated high selectivity conversion of CO2 into CO under xenon-lamp irradiation. Compared with the unsupported homogeneous catalyst Re(PyBn)(CO)3 Cl, the covalent immobilized catalyst composite TiO2 -rGO-Re(PyBn)(CO)3 Cl enhanced the turnover number six times and significantly improved catalyst stability. During the process of CO2 photo-reduction, intermediate species with lifetimes longer than hundreds of microseconds were observed and the formation of CO products was revealed using timeresolved infrared spectroscopy. A plausible mechanism for CO2 photo-reduction by the TiO2 -rGO-Re(PyBn)(CO)3 Cl catalyst composite has been suggested. The obtained results have implications for the future design of efficient catalyst composites for CO2 photo-conversion.

Visible-light-driven CO2 reduction on a hybrid photocatalyst consisting of a Ru(ii) binuclear complex and a Ag-loaded TaON in aqueous solutions

A hybrid photocatalyst consisting of a Ru(ii) binuclear complex and a Ag-loaded TaON reduced CO2 by visible light even in aqueous solution. The distribution of the reduction products was strongly affected by the pH of the reaction solution. HCOOH was selectively produced in neutral conditions, whereas the formation of HCOOH competed with H2 evolution in acidic conditions. Detailed mechanistic studies revealed that the photocatalytic CO2 reduction proceeded via 'Z-schematic' electron transfer with step-by-step photoexcitation of TaON and the photosensitizer unit in the Ru(ii) binuclear complex. The maximum turnover number for HCOOH formation was 750 based on the Ru(ii) binuclear complex under visible-light irradiation, and the optimum external quantum efficiency of the HCOOH formation was 0.48% using 400 nm monochromic light with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt as a sacrificial reductant. Even in aqueous solution, the hybrid could also convert visible-light energy into chemical energy (ΔG0 = +83 kJ mol-1) by the reduction of CO2 to HCOOH with methanol oxidation.

Photochemical and electrochemical catalytic reduction of CO2 with NHC-containing dicarbonyl rhenium(i) bipyridine complexes

The electrochemical and photochemical catalytic reductions of CO2 using N,O and N,S-NHC-containing dicarbonyl rhenium(i) bipyridine complexes have been investigated. By replacing the carbonyl ligand in tricarbonyl rhenium(i) complexes with a weaker π-accepting ligand, the characteristic MLCT transitions shifted to lower energy. This makes photocatalysts capable of harvesting low-energy visible light for catalyzing CO2 reduction. A detailed study revealed that these dicarbonyl rhenium(i) complexes are also highly selective for photocatalysis of CO2 to CO with a good quantum efficiency (10%), similar to that of the tricarbonyl rhenium(i) complex analogues. From the electrochemical study, it was observed that the catalysts efficiently produce CO from CO2 with high turnover frequency and good stability over time.

Generation of a stable supramolecular hydrogen evolving photocatalyst by alteration of the catalytic center

The change of the catalytic center from MX₂ to RhCp*Cl leads to a stability boost in [(tbbpy)₂Ru(tpphz)] based supramolecular photocatalysts.

Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2 with Re-Pyridyl-NHCs

A series of Re(I) pyridyl N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes have been synthesized and examined in the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 using a simulated solar spectrum. The catalysts were characterized through NMR, UV-vis, cyclic voltammetry under nitrogen, and cyclic voltammetry under carbon dioxide. The complexes were compared directly with a known benchmark catalyst, Re(bpy) (CO)3Br. An electron-deficient NHC substituent (PhCF3) was found to promote catalytic activity when compared with electron-neutral and -rich substituents. Re(PyNHC-PhCF3) (CO)3Br was found to exceed the CO production of the benchmark Re(bpy) (CO)3Br catalyst (51 vs 33 TON) in the presence of electron donor BIH and photosensitizer fac-Ir(ppy)3. Importantly, Re(PyNHC-PhCF3) (CO)3Br was found to function without a photosensitizer (32 TON) at substantially higher turnovers than the benchmark catalyst Re(bpy) (CO)3Br (14 TON) under a solar simulated spectrum.

Unexpected effect of catalyst concentration on photochemical CO2 reduction by trans(Cl)-Ru(bpy)(CO)2Cl2: new mechanistic insight into the CO/HCOO- selectivity

Photochemical CO₂ reduction catalysed by trans(Cl)-Ru(bpy)(CO)₂Cl₂ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) efficiently produces carbon monoxide (CO) and formate (HCOO^-) in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA)/water containing [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ as a photosensitizer and 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (BNAH) as an electron donor. We have unexpectedly found catalyst concentration dependence of the product ratio (CO/HCOO^-) in the photochemical CO₂ reduction: the ratio of CO/HCOO^- decreases with increasing catalyst concentration. The result has led us to propose a new mechanism in which HCOO^- is selectively produced by the formation of a Ru(i)-Ru(i) dimer as the catalyst intermediate. This reaction mechanism predicts that the Ru-Ru bond dissociates in the reaction of the dimer with CO₂, and that the insufficient electron supply to the catalyst results in the dominant formation of HCOO^-. The proposed mechanism is supported by the result that the time-course profiles of CO and HCOO^- in the photochemical CO₂ reduction catalysed by [Ru(bpy)(CO)₂Cl]₂ (0.05 mM) are very similar to those of the reduction catalysed by trans(Cl)-Ru(bpy)(CO)₂Cl₂ (0.10 mM), and that HCOO^- formation becomes dominant under low-intensity light. The kinetic analyses based on the proposed mechanism could excellently reproduce the unusual catalyst concentration effect on the product ratio. The catalyst concentration effect observed in the photochemical CO₂ reduction using [Ru(4dmbpy)₃]²⁺ (4dmbpy = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine) instead of [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ as the photosensitizer is also explained with the kinetic analyses, reflecting the smaller quenching rate constant of excited [Ru(4dmbpy)₃]²⁺ by BNAH than that of excited [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺. We have further synthesized trans(Cl)-Ru(6Mes-bpy)(CO)₂Cl₂ (6Mes-bpy = 6,6'-dimesityl-2,2'-bipyridine), which bears bulky substituents at the 6,6'-positions in the 2,2'-bipyridyl ligand, so that the ruthenium complex cannot form the dimer due to the steric hindrance. We have found that this ruthenium complex selectively produces CO, which strongly supports the catalytic mechanism proposed in this work.

Ru(ii)-Re(i) binuclear photocatalysts connected by -CH2XCH2- (X = O, S, CH2) for CO2 reduction

We developed Ru(ii)-Re(i) supramolecular photocatalysts in which each metal complex unit is connected by a -CH₂XCH₂- (X = O, S, CH₂) chain. The photocatalyst with X = O exhibited the best photocatalytic efficiency for CO₂ reduction in the reported systems using a NAD(P)H model compound as an electron donor because the introduced oxygen atom strengthened the oxidation power of the Ru photosensitizer unit in the excited state and accelerated electron transfer from the one-electron-reduced Ru photosensitizer unit to the Re catalyst unit. In contrast, the catalytic ability of the photocatalyst with X = S rapidly decreased during irradiation because the supramolecular structure split into mononuclear complexes. A detailed mechanism for the efficient photocatalytic reaction involving these supramolecular photocatalysts was investigated for the first time.

Improving the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO through immobilisation of a molecular Re catalyst on TiO2

The photocatalytic activity of phosphonated Re complexes, [Re(2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-bisphosphonic acid) (CO)3(L)] (ReP; L = 3-picoline or bromide) immobilised on TiO2 nanoparticles is reported. The heterogenised Re catalyst on the semiconductor, ReP-TiO2 hybrid, displays an improvement in CO2 reduction photocatalysis. A high turnover number (TON) of 48 molCO molRe(-1) is observed in DMF with the electron donor triethanolamine at λ>420 nm. ReP-TiO2 compares favourably to previously reported homogeneous systems and is the highest TON reported to date for a CO2-reducing Re photocatalyst under visible light irradiation. Photocatalytic CO2 reduction is even observed with ReP-TiO2 at wavelengths of λ>495 nm. Infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies confirm that an intact ReP catalyst is present on the TiO2 surface before and during catalysis. Transient absorption spectroscopy suggests that the high activity upon heterogenisation is due to an increase in the lifetime of the immobilised anionic Re intermediate (t50% >1 s for ReP-TiO2 compared with t50% = 60 ms for ReP in solution) and immobilisation might also reduce the formation of inactive Re dimers. This study demonstrates that the activity of a homogeneous photocatalyst can be improved through immobilisation on a metal oxide surface by favourably modifying its photochemical kinetics.

Metal-free, one-pot, sequential protocol for transforming α,β-epoxy ketones to β-hydroxy ketones and α-methylene ketones

A new sequential, one-pot protocol for transforming 1,3-disubstituted 2,3-epoxy ketones to β-hydroxy ketones and α-methylene ketones has been developed. Reaction of epoxy ketones with boron trifluoride etherate (BF3·OEt2) generates the cationic intermediates by regioselective epoxide ring opening and an acyl shift. Then, a treatment of these cations with 2-aryl-1,3-dimethylbenzimidazolines (DMBIH) results in formation of 1,2-disubstituted 3-hydroxy ketones. DMBIH serves as a hydride donor in the second step of this process. Finally, the β-hydroxy ketones can be converted to 1,2-disubstituted 2-methylene ketones by treatment with methanesulfonic acid or a combination of methanesulfonyl chloride and triethylamine. Importantly, the sequential steps involved in formation of the α-methylene ketone products can be carried out in one pot.

Red-light-driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution using a ruthenium quaterpyridine complex

The ruthenium tris-quaterpyridine complex, obtained in quantitative yield, is an excellent photosensitiser for photocatalytic hydrogen production, especially under red-light irradiation.

Synthesis and characterization of monometallic rhenium(i) complexes and their application as selective sensors for copper(ii) ions

Monometallic Re(i) complexes, selective and sensitive sensor of Cu(ii) ion, show substantial enhancement in the emission intensity, quantum yield, and lifetime due to the restriction of CN isomerization.

Two-electron carbon dioxide reduction catalyzed by rhenium(I) bis(imino)acenaphthene carbonyl complexes

Rhenium(I) carbonyl complexes carrying substituted bis(arylimino)acenaphthene ligands (BIAN-R) have been tested as potential catalysts for the two-electron reduction of carbon dioxide. Cyclic voltammetric studies as well as controlled potential electrolysis experiments were performed using CO2-saturated solutions of the complexes in acetonitrile and acetonitrile-water mixtures. Faradaic efficiencies of more than 30 % have been determined for the electrocatalytic production of CO. The effects of ligand substitution patterns and water content of the reaction medium on the catalytic performance of the new catalysts are discussed.