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Capturing the Role of Explicit Solvent in the Dimerization of Ru V (bda) Water Oxidation Catalysts
Author(s) -
Zhan Shaoqi,
Mårtensson Daniel,
Purg Miha,
Kamerlin Shina C. L.,
Ahlquist Mårten S. G.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201701488
Subject(s) - chemistry , dimer , catalysis , solvent , solvation , valence bond theory , valence (chemistry) , transition metal , solvent effects , stacking , monomer , isoquinoline , photochemistry , molecule , organic chemistry , polymer , molecular orbital
A ground‐breaking empirical valence bond study for a soluble transition‐metal complex is presented. The full reaction of catalyst monomers approaching and reacting in the Ru V oxidation state were studied. Analysis of the solvation shell in the reactant and along the reaction coordinate revealed that the oxo itself is hydrophobic, which adds a significant driving force to form the dimer. The effect of the solvent on the reaction between the prereactive dimer and the product was small. The solvent seems to lower the barrier for the isoquinoline (isoq) complex while it is increased for pyridines. By comparing the reaction in the gas phase and solution, the proposed π‐stacking interaction of the isoq ligands is found to be entirely driven by the water medium.