RuO complexes as catalysts for oxidative transformations, including the oxidation of water to molecular dioxygen

This paper presents a short review related to the chemistry of the RuO group with data extracted from recent reports described in the literature by the authors of the present review and others. It was presented as an oral contribution to the 2005-Adhoc meeting held in Köln, Germany. The main thermodynamic characteristics of mononuclear complexes containing the RuO group are described and the effects produced by different type of electronic perturbations are analyzed through the ligands. Furthermore, an example of heterogenization of a RuO complex through a polypyrrol conductive polymer on a graphite electrode and its consequences are also described. Finally a description of complexes bearing two RuO groups is carried out with special attention to those complexes that in their higher oxidation states are capable of oxidizing water to molecular dioxygen.

A short review related to the chemistry of ruthenium complexes containing one and two RuO groups is presented. For complexes containing one RuO group, a special attention is addressed to describe the effect of electronic perturbations transmitted by the ligands to the mentioned RuO. For complexes containing two RuO groups, the accent is placed at the importance of the relative spatial disposition of those two RuO groups. Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide