Annual Scientific Report 2015

Abstract

The group carries out research in the field of redox catalysis using transition metal complexes. We are interested in the oxidation and reduction of both organic and inorganic substrates, and mainly those that are of technological interest. Our overall objective is to understand the various factors that affect catalyst’s efficiency and selectivity with special focus on the transition metal electronic structure and space disposition. Particular attention is being paid to the catalytic oxidation of water to molecular dioxygen, given the implications of this reaction for new energy conversion schemes based on artificial photosynthesis. The final objective of this route consists on the photo-production of hydrogen from water and sunlight

Topics addressed

• Catalysts for Artificial Photosynthesis
• Photochemical oxidation of organic substrates
• Selective chemical oxidation of organic substrates under mild conditions
• Supramolecular catalysis
• Activation of C-H and C-F bonds

 Articles

“Oxo- Bridge Scenario behind Single- Site Water- Oxidation Catalysts”
Inorg. Chem. (2015) 54(2), 658-666.
I. López, S. Maji, J. Benet-Buchholz, A. Llobet

“H2 Generation and Sulfide to Sulfoxide Oxidation with H2O and Sunlight with a Model Photoelectrosynthesis Cell ”
Coord. Chem. Rev. (2015) 304-305, 202-208.
P. Farràs, C. Di Giovanni, J. N. Clifford, E. Palomares, A. Llobet

“Highly Efficient Binuclear Ruthenium Catalyst for Water Oxidation”
ChemSusChem (2015) 8, 1697-1702
A. C. Sander, S. Maji, L. Francàs, T. Böhnisch, S. Dechert, A. Llobet, F. Meyer

“Behavior of the Ru-bda Water Oxidation Catalyst Covalently Anchored on Glassy Carbon Electrodes”
ACS Catal. (2015) 5, 3422-3429
R. Matheu, L. Francàs, P. Chernev, M. Z. Ertem, V. Batista, M. Haumann, X. Sala, A. Llobet

“Redox Non-innocent Ligand Controls Water Oxidation Overpotential in a New Family of Mononuclear Cu-Based Efficient Catalysts”
J. Am. Chem. Soc. (2015) 137, 6758-6761
P. Garrido-Barros, I. Funes-Ardoiz, S. Drouet, J. Benet-Buchholz, F. Maseras, A. Llobet

“Powerful Bis-facially Bridged Ru Dinuclear Epoxidation Catalyst”
Inorg. Chem. (2015) 54, 6782-6791
J. Aguiló, L. Francàs, R. Bofill, M. Gil-Sepulcre, J. García-Antón, A. Poater, A. Llobet, L. Escriche, F. Meyer, X. Sala

“Efficient Light-Driven Water Oxidation Catalysis by Dinuclear Ru Complexes”
ChemSusChem (2015) 8, 3688-3696
S. Berardi, L. Francàs, S. Neudeck, S. Maji, J. Benet-Buchholz, F. Meyer, A. Llobet

“Intramolecular Proton Transfer Boosts Water Oxidation Catalyzed by a Ru Complex”
J. Am. Chem. Soc.(2015) 137, 10786-10795
R. Matheu, M. Z. Ertem, J. Benet-Buchholz, E. Coronado, V. S. Batista, X. Sala, A. Llobet

“Single Site Isomeric Ru WOCs with Electron Withdrawing Groups: Synthesis, Electrochemical Characterization and Reactivity”
Inorg. Chem. (2015), 54, 11948-11957
L. Mognon, J. Benet-Buchholz, A. Llobet