Efficient visible light-driven water oxidation catalysed by an iron(iv) clathrochelate complex

Crystal structure of a water oxidation catalyst solvate with composition (NH4)2[FeIV(L-6H)]·3CH3COOH (L = clathrochelate ligand)

The synthetic availability of mol-ecular water oxidation catalysts containing high-valent ions of 3d metals in the active site is a prerequisite to enabling photo- and electrochemical water splitting on a large scale. Herein, the synthesis and crystal structure of di-ammonium {μ-1,3,4,7,8,10,12,13,16,17,19,22-dodeca-aza-tetra-cyclo-[8.8.4.13,17.18,12]tetra-cosane-5,6,14,15,20,21-hexa-onato}ferrate(IV) acetic acid tris-olvate, (NH4)2[FeIV(C12H12N12O6)]·3CH3COOH or (NH4)2[FeIV(L-6H)]·3CH3COOH is reported. The FeIV ion is encapsulated by the macropolycyclic ligand, which can be described as a dodeca-aza-quadricyclic cage with two capping tri-aza-cyclo-hexane fragments making three five- and six six-membered alternating chelate rings with the central FeIV ion. The local coord-ination environment of FeIV is formed by six deprotonated hydrazide nitro-gen atoms, which stabilize the unusual oxidation state. The FeIV ion lies on a twofold rotation axis (multiplicity 4, Wyckoff letter e) of the space group C2/c. Its coordination geometry is inter-mediate between a trigonal prism (distortion angle φ = 0°) and an anti-prism (φ = 60°) with φ = 31.1°. The Fe-N bond lengths lie in the range 1.9376 (13)-1.9617 (13) Å, as expected for tetra-valent iron. Structure analysis revealed that three acetic acid mol-ecules additionally co-crystallize per one iron(IV) complex, and one of them is positionally disordered over four positions. In the crystal structure, the ammonium cations, complex dianions and acetic acid mol-ecules are inter-connected by an intricate system of hydrogen bonds, mainly via the oxamide oxygen atoms acting as acceptors.

Tracking an FeV (O) Intermediate for Water Oxidation in Water

High-valent iron-oxo species are appealing for conducting O-O bond formation for water oxidation reactions. However, their high reactivity poses a great challenge to the dissection of their chemical transformations. Herein, we introduce an electron-rich and oxidation-resistant ligand, 2-[(2,2'-bipyridin)-6-yl]propan-2-ol to stabilize such fleeting intermediates. Advanced spectroscopies and electrochemical studies demonstrate a high-valent FeV (O) species formation in water. Combining kinetic and oxygen isotope labelling experiments and organic reactions indicates that the FeV (O) species is responsible for O-O bond formation via water nucleophilic attack under the real catalytic water oxidation conditions.

Synthesis, Structure, and Magnetic Properties of Ditopic Ferrocenylboron-Capped Tris-Pyridineoximate Iron, Cobalt, and Nickel(II) Pseudoclathrochelates

Abstract

Tris-pyridineoximate iron, cobalt, and nickel(II) pseudoclathrochelates with apical ferrocenyl substituent were obtained in the reasonable yields (50–70%) in a boiling ethanol by the template condensation of 2-acetylpyridineoxime with ferrocenylboronic acid on the corresponding M2+ ion as a matrix. The composition and structure of new ditopic compounds, isolated in the forms of their ionic associates with perchlorate anion, were determined using elemental analysis, UV-vis spectroscopy, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy. According to the magnetometry data, the iron(II) pseudoclathrochelate is a diamagnetic compound, while the temperature dependences of magnetic susceptibility of the nickel and cobalt(II) complexes are characteristic of the high-spin systems with S = 1 and 3/2, respectively. As follows from the X-ray diffraction data for the iron and nickel(II) pseudoclathrochelates, the Ni–N distances (2.15–2.17 Å) are characteristic of the high-spin Ni2+ complexes, while they in its iron(II)-containing analog, slightly exceed of 2 Å, thus suggesting the low-spin state of this ion.

Water Oxidation by Pentapyridyl Base Metal Complexes? A Case Study

The design of molecular water oxidation catalysts (WOCs) requires a rational approach that considers the intermediate steps of the catalytic cycle, including water binding, deprotonation, storage of oxidizing equivalents, O–O bond formation, and O₂ release. We investigated several of these properties for a series of base metal complexes (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) bearing two variants of a pentapyridyl ligand framework, of which some were reported previously to be active WOCs. We found that only [Fe(Py5OMe)Cl]⁺ (Py5OMe = pyridine-2,6-diylbis[di-(pyridin-2-yl)methoxymethane]) showed an appreciable catalytic activity with a turnover number (TON) = 130 in light-driven experiments using the [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺/S₂O₈^2– system at pH 8.0, but that activity is demonstrated to arise from the rapid degradation in the buffered solution leading to the formation of catalytically active amorphous iron oxide/hydroxide (FeOOH), which subsequently lost the catalytic activity by forming more extensive and structured FeOOH species. The detailed analysis of the redox and water-binding properties employing electrochemistry, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), UV–vis spectroscopy, and density-functional theory (DFT) showed that all complexes were able to undergo the M^III/M^II oxidation, but none was able to yield a detectable amount of a M^IV state in our potential window (up to +2 V vs SHE). This inability was traced to (i) the preference for binding Cl^– or acetonitrile instead of water-derived species in the apical position, which excludes redox leveling via proton coupled electron transfer, and (ii) the lack of sigma donor ligands that would stabilize oxidation states beyond M^III. On that basis, design features for next-generation molecular WOCs are suggested.

We scrutinize the water oxidation activity for pentapyridyl metal complexes [M^II(Py5R)Cl]⁺ (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni; R = OH, OMe). Analysis of their stability, redox, and water-binding properties shows that the complexes are not able to reach high-valent intermediate states and do not catalyze water oxidation in their molecular form.

Hybrid iron(II) phthalocyaninatoclathrochelates with a terminal reactive vinyl group and their organo-inorganic polymeric derivatives: synthetic approaches, X-ray structures and copolymerization with styrene

Hybrid metallo(IV)phthalocyaninate-capped tris-dioximate iron(II) complexes (termed as "phthalocyaninatoclathrochelates") with non-equivalent apical fragments and functionalized with one terminal reactive vinyl group were prepared for the first time using three different synthetic approaches: (i) transmetallation (capping group exchange) of the appropriate labile boron,antimony-capped cage precursors, (ii) capping of the initially isolated reactive semiclathrochelate intermediate, and (iii) direct one-pot template condensation of their ligand synthons on the iron(II) ion as a matrix. The obtained polytopic cage complexes were characterized using elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, MALDI-TOF MS and UV-vis spectra, and the single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments. One of the obtained vinyl-terminated iron(II) phthalocyaninatoclathrochelates and its semiclathrochelate precursor were tested as monomers in a copolymerization reaction with styrene as the main component. These vinyl-terminated (semi)clathrochelate iron(II) complexes were found to be successfully copolymerized with this industrially important monomer, affording the intensely colored copolymer products. Because of a low solubility of the tested zirconium(IV) phthalocyaninate-capped tris-nioximate monomer in styrene as a solvent, a molar ratio of 1 : 500 was used. The obtained copolymer products and the kinetics of their formation were studied using GPC, FTIR, UV-vis, TGA and DSC methods. Even at such a low concentration of the Fe,Zr-binuclear metallocomplex component, an increase in the rate of the UV-light degradation of the organo-inorganic products, as well as in their thermal stability, was observed.

Hydroxyl-Decorated Diiron Complex as a [FeFe]-Hydrogenase Active Site Model Complex: Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activity and Heterogenization on Ethylene-Bridged Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica

A biomimetic model complex of the [FeFe]-hydrogenase active site (FeFeOH) with an ethylene bridge and a pendant hydroxyl group has been synthesized, characterized and evaluated as catalyst for the light-driven hydrogen production. The interaction of the hydroxyl group present in the complex with 3-isocyanopropyltriethoxysilane provided a carbamate triethoxysilane bearing a diiron dithiolate complex (NCOFeFe), thus becoming a potentially promising candidate for anchoring on heterogeneous supports. As a proof of concept, the NCOFeFe precursor was anchored by a grafting procedure into a periodic mesoporous organosilica with ethane bridges (EthanePMO@NCOFeFe). Both molecular and heterogenized complexes were tested as catalysts for light-driven hydrogen generation in aqueous solutions. The photocatalytic conditions were optimized for the homogenous complex by varying the reaction time, pH, amount of the catalyst or photosensitizer, photon flux, and the type of light source (light-emitting diode (LED) and Xe lamp). It was shown that the molecular FeFeOH diiron complex achieved a decent turnover number (TON) of 70 after 6 h, while NCOFeFe and EthanePMO@NCOFeFe had slightly lower activities showing TONs of 37 and 5 at 6 h, respectively.

Systematic Influence of Electronic Modification of Ligands on the Catalytic Rate of Water Oxidation by a Single-Site Ru-Based Catalyst

Catalytic water oxidation is an important process for the development of clean energy solutions and energy storage. Despite the significant number of reports on active catalysts, systematic control of the catalytic activity remains elusive. In this study, descriptors are explored that can be correlated with catalytic activity. [Ru(tpy)(pic)₂ (H₂ O)](NO₃ )₂ and [Ru(EtO-tpy)(pic)₂ (H₂ O)](NO₃ )₂ (where tpy=2,2' : 6',2"-terpyridine, EtO-tpy=4'-(ethoxy)-2,2':6',2"-terpyridine, pic=4-picoline) are synthesized and characterized by NMR, UV/Vis, EPR, resonance Raman, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and electrochemical analysis. Addition of the ethoxy group increases the catalytic activity in chemically driven and photocatalytic water oxidation. Thus, the effect of the electron-donating group known for the [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(H₂ O)]²⁺ family is transferable to architectures with a tpy ligand trans to the Ru-oxo unit. Under catalytic conditions, [Ru(EtO-tpy)(pic)₂ (H₂ O)](NO₃ )₂ displays new spectroscopic signals tentatively assigned to a peroxo intermediate. Reaction pathways were analyzed by using DFT calculations. [Ru(EtO-tpy)(pic)₂ (H₂ O)](NO₃ )₂ is found to be one of the most active catalysts functioning by a water nucleophilic attack mechanism.

Iron(IV) Complexes with Tetraazaadamantane-based Ligands: Synthesis, Structure, Application in Dioxygen Activation and Labeling of Biomolecules

4,6,10-Trihydroxy-1,4,6,10-tetraazaadamantane (TAAD) has been shown to form a stable Fe(IV) complex having a diamantane cage structure, in which the metal center is coordinated by three oxygen atoms of the deprotonated...

A second solvatomorph of poly[[μ4-N,N'-(1,3,5-oxadiazinane-3,5-di-yl)bis-(carbamoyl-methano-ato)]nickel(II)dipotassium]: crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and semi-empirical geometry optimization

The title compound, poly[tri-aqua-bis-[μ4-N,N'-(1,3,5-oxadiazinane-3,5-di-yl)bis(carbamoyl-methano-ato)]dinickel(II)tetra-potassium], [K4Ni2(C7H6N4O7)2(H2O)3] n , is a second solvatomorph of poly[(μ4-N,N'-(1,3,5-oxadiazinane-3,5-di-yl)bis-(carbamoyl-methano-ato)nickel(II)dipotassium] reported previously [Plutenko et al. (2021 ▸). Acta Cryst. E77, 298-304]. The asymmetric unit of the title compound includes two structurally independent complex anions [Ni(C7H6N4O7)]2-, which exhibit an L-shaped geometry and consist of two almost flat fragments perpendicular to one another: the 1,3,5-oxadiazinane fragment and the fragment including other atoms of the anion. The central Ni atom is in a square-planar N2O2 coordination arrangement formed by two amide N and two carboxyl-ate O atoms. In the crystal, the title compound forms a layered structure in which layers of negatively charged complex anions and positively charged potassium cations are stacked along the a-axis direction. The polymeric framework is stabilized by a system of hydrogen-bonding inter-actions in which the water mol-ecules act as donors and the carb-oxy-lic, amide and water O atoms act as acceptors.

Expanding manganese(IV) aqueous chemistry: unusually stable water-soluble hexahydrazide clathrochelate complexes

Mn cage complexes are rare, and the ones successfully isolated in the solid state are not stable in water and organic solvents. Herein, we present the first report of mononuclear Mn clathrochelates, in which the encapsulated metal exists in the oxidation state +4. The complexes are extremely stable in the crystalline state and in solutions and show rich redox chemistry.

Revealing the Structure of Transition Metal Complexes of Formaldoxime

Aerobic reactions of iron(III), nickel(II), and manganese(II) chlorides with formaldoxime cyclotrimer (tfoH₃) and 1,4,7-triazacyclononane (tacn) produce indefinitely stable complexes of general formula [M(tacn)(tfo)]Cl. Although the formation of formaldoxime complexes has been known since the end of 19th century and applied in spectrophotometric determination of d-metals (formaldoxime method), the structure of these coordination compounds remained elusive until now. According to the X-ray analysis, [M(tacn)(tfo)]⁺ cation has a distorted adamantane-like structure with the metal ion being coordinated by three oxygen atoms of deprotonated tfoH₃ ligand. The metal has a formal +4 oxidation state, which is atypical for organic complexes of iron and nickel. Electronic structure of [M(tacn)(tfo)]⁺ cations was studied by XPS, NMR, cyclic (CV) and differential pulse (DPV) voltammetries, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. Unusual stabilization of high-valent metal ion by tfo^3- ligand was explained by the donation of electron density from the nitrogen atom to the antibonding orbital of the metal-oxygen bond via hyperconjugation as confirmed by the NBO analysis. All complexes [M(tacn)(tfo)]Cl exhibited high catalytic activity in the aerobic dehydrogenative dimerization of p-thiocresol under ambient conditions.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of poly[[bis[μ4-N,N′-(1,3,5-oxadiazinane-3,5-diyl)bis(carbamoylmethanoato)]nickel(II)tetrapotassium] 4.8-hydrate]

The complex nickel(II) anion comprises a pseudomacrocyclic hydrazide-based ligand with an L shape. In the crystal, such anions are connected with the potassium cations and the water solvent mol­ecules, forming a three-dimensional polymeric framework, which is stabilized by an extensive system of hydrogen bonds.

The title compound, {[K₄Ni₂(C₇H₆N₄O₇)₂]·4.8H₂O}_n, was obtained as a result of a template reaction between oxalohydrazide­hydroxamic acid, formaldehyde and nickel(II) nitrate followed by partial hydrolysis of the formed inter­mediate. The two independent [Ni(C₇H₆N₄O₇)]^2– complex anions exhibit pseudo-C_S symmetry and consist of an almost planar metal-containing fragment and a 1,3,5-oxadiazinane ring with a chair conformation disposed nearly perpendicularly with respect to the former. The central Ni^II atom has a square-planar N₂O₂ coordination arrangement formed by two amide N and two carboxyl­ate O atoms. In the crystal, the nickel(II) complex anions form layers parallel to the ab plane. Neighboring complex anion layers are connected by layers of potassium cations for which two of the four independent cations are disordered over two sites [ratios of 0.54 (3):0.46 (3) and 0.9643 (15):0.0357 (15)]. The framework is stabilized by an extensive system of hydrogen bonds where the water mol­ecules act as donors and the carb­oxy­lic O atoms, the amide O atoms and the oxadiazinane N atoms act as acceptors.

Spectroelectrochemical Properties and Catalytic Activity in Cyclohexane Oxidation of the Hybrid Zr/Hf-Phthalocyaninate-Capped Nickel(II) and Iron(II) tris-Pyridineoximates and Their Precursors

The in situ spectroelectrochemical cyclic voltammetric studies of the antimony-monocapped nickel(II) and iron(II) tris-pyridineoximates with a labile triethylantimony cross-linking group and Zr(IV)/Hf(IV) phthalocyaninate complexes were performed in order to understand the nature of the redox events in the molecules of heterodinuclear zirconium(IV) and hafnium(IV) phthalocyaninate-capped derivatives. Electronic structures of their 1e-oxidized and 1e-electron-reduced forms were experimentally studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and UV−vis−near-IR spectroelectrochemical experiments and supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The investigated hybrid molecular systems that combine a transition metal (pseudo)clathrochelate and a Zr/Hf-phthalocyaninate moiety exhibit quite rich redox activity both in the cathodic and in the anodic region. These binuclear compounds and their precursors were tested as potential catalysts in oxidation reactions of cyclohexane and the results are discussed.

Molecular and heterogeneous water oxidation catalysts: recent progress and joint perspectives

The recent synthetic and mechanistic progress in molecular and heterogeneous water oxidation catalysts highlights the new, overarching strategies for knowledge transfer and unifying design concepts.

Hybrid compound based on diethylenetriaminecopper(ii) cations and scarce V-monosubstituted β-octamolybdate as water oxidation catalyst

Herein, we report on a new hybrid compound (NH₄){[Cu(dien)(H₂O)₂]₂[β-VMo₇O₂₆]}·1.5H₂O (1), where dien = diethylenetriamine, containing an extremely rare mixed-metal pseudo-octamolybdate cluster. An ex situ EPR spectroscopy provided insights into the formation of paramagnetic species in reaction mixture and in solution of 1. The magneto-structural correlations revealed weak antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the [Cu(dien)]²⁺ cations transmitted by intermolecular pathways. The cyclic voltammetry showed the one-electron process associated with the Cu³⁺/Cu²⁺ oxidation followed by the multi-electron catalytic wave due to water oxidation with a faradaic yield of 86%. The title compound was thus employed in homogeneous water oxidation catalysis using tris(bipyridine)ruthenium photosensitizer. At pH 8.0, efficiency of the catalytic system attained 0.19 turnovers per second supported by the relatively mild water oxidation overpotential of 0.54 V.

A new hybrid compound (NH₄){[Cu(dien)(H₂O)₂]₂[β-VMo₇O₂₆]}·1.5H₂O was employed in homogeneous water oxidation catalysis. At pH 8.0, its efficiency attains 0.19 turnovers per second, supported by the relatively mild water oxidation overpotential of 0.54 V.

Doubly-Charged Negative Ions as Novel Tunable Catalysts: Graphene and Fullerene Molecules Versus Atomic Metals

The fundamental mechanism underlying negative-ion catalysis involves bond-strength breaking in the transition state (TS). Doubly-charged atomic/molecular anions are proposed as novel dynamic tunable catalysts, as demonstrated in water oxidation into peroxide. Density Functional Theory TS calculations have found a tunable energy activation barrier reduction ranging from 0.030 eV to 2.070 eV, with Si2-, Pu2-, Pa2- and Sn2- being the best catalysts; the radioactive elements usher in new application opportunities. C602- significantly reduces the standard C60- TS energy barrier, while graphene increases it, behaving like cationic systems. According to their reaction barrier reduction efficiency, variation across charge states and systems, rank-ordered catalysts reveal their tunable and wide applications, ranging from water purification to biocompatible antiviral and antibacterial sanitation systems.

An Iron(III) Complex with Pincer Ligand—Catalytic Water Oxidation through Controllable Ligand Exchange

Pincer ligands occupy three coplanar sites at metal centers and often support both stability and reactivity. The five-coordinate [FeIIICl2(tia-BAI)] complex (tia-BAI− = 1,3-bis(2’-thiazolylimino)isoindolinate(−)) was considered as a potential pre-catalyst for water oxidation providing the active form via the exchange of chloride ligands to water molecules. The tia-BAI− pincer ligand renders water-insolubility to the Fe–(tia-BAI) assembly, but it tolerates the presence of water in acetone and produces electrocatalytic current in cyclic voltammetry associated with molecular water oxidation catalysis. Upon addition of water to [FeIIICl2(tia-BAI)] in acetone the changes in the Fe3+/2+ redox transition and the UV-visible spectra could be associated with solvent-dependent equilibria between the aqua and chloride complex forms. Immobilization of the complex from methanol on indium-tin-oxide (ITO) electrode by means of drop-casting resulted in water oxidation catalysis in borate buffer. The O2 detected by gas chromatography upon electrolysis at pH 8.3 indicates >80% Faraday efficiency by a TON > 193. The investigation of the complex/ITO assembly by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) before and after electrolysis, and re-dissolution tests suggest that an immobilized molecular catalyst is responsible for catalysis and de-activation occurs by depletion of the metal.

Giant iron polyoxometalate that works as a catalyst for water oxidation

A polyoxometalate (POM) cluster [Mo₇₂Fe₃₀O₂₅₂(CH₃COO)₁₂{Mo₂O₇(H₂O)}₂ {H₂Mo₂O₈(H₂O)} (H₂O)₉₁]. ca. 150 H₂O (catalyst I) has been explored as a light-driven water oxidation catalyst. The catalyst is stable and could be reused/recycled several times.

Photoinduced hole transfer from tris(bipyridine)ruthenium dye to a high-valent iron-based water oxidation catalyst

An efficient water oxidation system is a prerequisite for developing solar energy conversion devices. Using advanced time-resolved spectroscopy, we study the initial catalytic relevant electron transfer events in the light-driven water oxidation system utilizing [Ru(bpy)3]2+ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) as a light harvester, persulfate as a sacrificial electron acceptor, and a high-valent iron clathrochelate complex as a catalyst. Upon irradiation by visible light, the excited state of the ruthenium dye is quenched by persulfate to afford a [Ru(bpy)3]3+/SO4˙- pair, showing a cage escape yield up to 75%. This is followed by the subsequent fast hole transfer from [Ru(bpy)3]3+ to the FeIV catalyst to give the long-lived FeV intermediate in aqueous solution. In the presence of excess photosensitizer, this process exhibits pseudo-first order kinetics with respect to the catalyst with a rate constant of 3.2(1) × 1010 s-1. Consequently, efficient hole scavenging activity of the high-valent iron complex is proposed to explain its high catalytic performance for water oxidation.

Copper-containing hybrid compounds based on extremely rare [V2Mo6O26]6– POM as water oxidation catalysts

Hybrid Cu/V/Mo compounds with rare [α-V₂Mo₆O₂₆]^6– and oxides prepared by their thermal degradation were used as catalysts for water oxidation.

Homogeneous photochemical water oxidation with metal salophen complexes in neutral media

The development of water oxidation catalysts based on Earth-abundant metals that can function at neutral pH remains a basic chemical challenge.