Nuclearity effect on water oxidation: a comparative study of dinuclear and mononuclear iron complexes†
Abstract
A novel dinuclear iron complex [Fe2(Pmabt)2(Pbt)2][ClO4]2·2CH3OH (2Fe-4S, Pmbt = 2-(pyridin-2′-yl)benzothiazoline, Pbt = 2-(pyridin-2-yl)benzo[d]thiazole) is presented. The electrochemical water oxidation properties manifested that 2Fe-4S exhibits a sevenfold higher TOF value compared to the mononuclear counterpart. Kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) showed the distinct O–O bond formation mechanism of the two complexes, underscoring the significant influence of nuclearity on catalytic behavior in water oxidation processes.