Combinatorial micro electrochemistry. Part 4: Cyclic voltammetric redox screening of homogeneous ruthenium(II) hydrogenation catalysts

Organometallic ruthenium(II) complexes, which act as homogeneous hydrogenation catalysts, are characterized electrochemically with respect to their redox properties by means of a new screening technique (“redox screening”). Samples of the complexes are dissolved in an electrolyte and placed in the wells of microtiter plates. Electrode bundles are moved under computer control between these wells, and cyclic voltammograms are automatically recorded. Analysis of the current/potential curves shows a relation between the voltammogram shape or position and the catalytic activity of the complexes. Thus, the technique proves well suited as an electrochemistry-based high-throughput method.