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Water oxidation is a key reaction in natural photosynthesis and in many schemes for artificial photosynthesis. Although metal complexes capable of oxidizing water based on Ru, Mn, and Ir are known, a significant question is whether or not dimeric or higher order structures are required for water oxidation. We report here single-site catalytic water oxidation by the monomeric complexes Ru(tpy)(bpm)(OH2)2+ and Ru(tpy)(bpz)(OH2)2+ (tpy is 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine; bpm is 2,2′-bipyrimidine; bpz is 2,2′-bipyrazine) by a well-defined mechanism involving RuV═O.
Concepcion et al. (Fri,) studied this question.