Electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol by the [Ru3O(OAc)6(py)2(CH3OH)]3+cluster: improving the metal-ligand electron transfer by accessing the higher oxidation states of a multicentered system

The [Ru3O(Ac)6(py)2(CH3OH)]+ cluster provides an effective electrocatalytic species for the oxidation of methanol under mild conditions. This complex exhibits characteristic electrochemical waves at -1.02, 0.15 and 1.18 V, associated with the Ru3III,II,II/Ru3III,III,II/Ru 3III,III,III /Ru3IV,III,III successive redox couples, respectively. Above 1.7 V, formation of two RuIV centers enhances the 2-electron oxidation of the methanol ligand yielding formaldehyde, in agreement with the theoretical evolution of the HOMO levels as a function of the oxidation states. This work illustrates an important strategy to improve the efficiency of the oxidation catalysis, by using a multicentered redox catalyst and accessing its multiple higher oxidation states.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Toma,Henrique E., Araki,Koiti, Formiga,André Luiz Barboza, Alexiou,Anamaria D. P., Nunes,Genebaldo S.
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Sociedade Brasileira de Química 2010
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-40422010001000008
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!