A cobalt(II) quaterpyridine complex as a visible light-driven catalyst for both water oxidation and reduction

The complex [Coᴵᴵ(qpy)(OH₂)₂]²⁺ (qpy = 2,2’:6’,2’’:6’’,2’’’-quaterpyridine) is an efficientvisible light-driven catalyst for both water oxidation and reduction. Itcatalyses photochemical oxygen evolution from water at pH 8.0 with [Ruᴵᴵ(bpy)₃] ²⁺/S₂O₈²⁻ (λ = 457 nm, max TON = 335, bpy = 2,2’-bipyridine). It also catalyses photochemicalhydrogen generation from [Irᴵᴵᴵ(dF(CF₃)ppy)₂(dtbbpy)]⁺/TEOA (dF(CF₃)ppy= anion of 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-5-trifluoromethylpyridine, dtbbpy = 4,4’-di-tert-butyl-2,2’-bipyridine, TEOA = triethanolamine) in aqueousacetonitrile (λ > 420 nm, max TON = 1730). Copyright © 2012 The Royal Society of Chemistry.