Oxidation of Water by Cerium(IV) Compounds in the Presence of Trinuclear Ruthenium Complexes

Abstract

The oxidation of water by Ce(IV) compounds in the presence of ruthenium complex (NH₃)₅Ru–O–Ru(NH₃)₄–O–Ru(NH₃)₅Cl₆ is studied. It is shown that the complex is a catalyst of water oxidation if one-electron oxidizing species Ce⁴⁺ are used. Four units of the indicated ruthenium complex then organize themselves into a reactive dodecanuclear cluster. It is established that the formation of bi-, tetra-, and polynuclear cerium clusters in the reacting system is accompanied by the four oxygen atoms in the catalyst molecule being replaced with 4NH₃ ligands, resulting in a different catalytic system for biomimetic water oxidation.