Substitution Reactions in Dinuclear Ru-Hbpp Complexes: an Evaluation of Through-Space Interactions

Adiponitrile at 100 K

Adiponitrile, C₆H₈N₂, is a key intermediate in the synthesis of the polyamide Nylon 66 and is produced industrially on a large scale. We have determined the crystal and molecular structure of adiponitrile by single-crystal X-ray analysis at 100 K, a suitable crystal (m.p. 275 K) having been grown from the melt at low temperature. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with Z = 2. In the crystal structure, the molecule adopts an exact C_i-symmetric gauche-anti-gauche conformation of the C-C-C-C skeleton about an inversion centre. The molecules are densely packed, with short intermolecular contacts between the α-H and nitrile N atoms.

Intramolecular Proton Transfer Boosts Water Oxidation Catalyzed by a Ru Complex

We introduce a new family of complexes with the general formula [Ru(n)(tda)(py)2](m+) (n = 2, m = 0, 1; n = 3, m = 1, 2(+); n = 4, m = 2, 3(2+)), with tda(2-) being [2,2':6',2″-terpyridine]-6,6″-dicarboxylate, including complex [Ru(IV)(OH)(tda-κ-N(3)O)(py)2](+), 4H(+), which we find to be an impressive water oxidation catalyst, formed by hydroxo coordination to 3(2+) under basic conditions. The complexes are synthesized, isolated, and thoroughly characterized by analytical, spectroscopic (UV-vis, nuclear magnetic resonance, electron paramagnetic resonance), computational, and electrochemical techniques (cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, coulometry), including solid-state monocrystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In oxidation state IV, the Ru center is seven-coordinated and diamagnetic, whereas in oxidation state II, the complex has an unbonded dangling carboxylate and is six-coordinated while still diamagnetic. With oxidation state III, the coordination number is halfway between the coordination of oxidation states II and IV. Species generated in situ have also been characterized by spectroscopic, computational, and electrochemical techniques, together with the related species derived from a different degree of protonation and oxidation states. 4H(+) can be generated potentiometrically, or voltammetrically, from 3(2+), and both coexist in solution. While complex 3(2+) is not catalytically active, the catalytic performance of complex 4H(+) is characterized by the foot of the wave analysis, giving an impressive turnover frequency record of 8000 s(-1) at pH 7.0 and 50 000 s(-1) at pH 10.0. Density functional theory calculations provide a complete description of the water oxidation catalytic cycle of 4H(+), manifesting the key functional role of the dangling carboxylate in lowering the activation free energies that lead to O-O bond formation.

Dinuclear Ru-aqua complexes for selective epoxidation catalysis based on supramolecular substrate orientation effects

Ru-aqua complex {[Ru(II)(trpy)(H2O)]2(μ-pyr-dc)}(+) is a powerful epoxidation catalyst for a wide range of linear and cyclic alkenes. High turnover numbers (TNs), up to 17000, and turnover frequencies (TOF), up to 24120 h(-1) (6.7 s(-1)), have been obtained using PhIO as oxidant. This species presents an outstanding stereospecificity for both cis and trans olefins towards the formation of their corresponding cis and trans epoxides. In addition, it shows different reactivity to cis and trans olefins due to a substrate orientation supramolecular effect transmitted by its ligand scaffold. This effect together with the impressive reaction rates are rationalized using electrochemical techniques and DFT calculations.

New dinuclear ruthenium complexes: structure and oxidative catalysis

The synthesis of new dinuclear complexes of the general formula {[Ru(II)(trpy)]2(μ-pdz-dc)(μ-(L)}(+) [pdz-dc is the pyridazine-3,6-dicarboxylate dianion; trpy is 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine; L = Cl (1(+)) or OH (2(+))] is described. These complexes are characterized by the usual analytical and spectroscopic techniques and by X-ray diffraction analysis. Their redox properties are characterized by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Complex 2(+) is used as the starting material to prepare the corresponding Ru-aqua complex {[Ru(II)(trpy)(H2O)]2(μ-pdz-dc)}(2+) (3(2+)), whose electrochemistry is also investigated by means of CV and DPV. Complex 3(2+) is able to catalytically and electrocatalytically oxidize water to dioxygen with moderate efficiencies. In sharp contrast, 3(2+) is a superb catalyst for the epoxidation of alkenes. For the particular case of cis-β-methylstyrene, the catalyst is capable of carrying out 1320 turnovers with a turnover frequency of 11.0 cycles min(-1), generating cis-β-methylstyrene oxide stereospecifically.