Photoassisted TiO Activation in a Decamethyltitanocene Dihydroxido Complex: Insights into the Elemental Steps of Water Splitting

Step by step: Irradiation of the decamethyltitanocene(IV) dihydroxido complex [Cp*2Ti(OH)2] (Cp*=η5-C5Me5) induces dissociation of Cp* and a rare homolytic TiO bond cleavage, most likely by elimination of an OH radical. Two independent reaction pathways are present, yielding the mononuclear TiIII monohydroxy complex [Cp*2Ti(OH)] as well as two tetranuclear TiIV complexes.