Synthesis and Structural Organization of Ruthenium(IV) Cluster Li₈Ru₂OCl₁₄ and Its Catalytic Properties in the Water Oxidation Reaction

Abstract—The synthesis of binuclear ruthenium(IV) oxochloride complex and reaction of the latter with LiCl in a 2.5 M HCl solution have been carried out. The reaction of Ru(IV) binding in solution leads to the formation of a new cluster compound Li₈Ru₂OCl₁₄ (I) whose molecular structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The crystals are tetragonal, space group I42m, -a = 7.08 Å, c = 17.00 Å, V = 852.18 ų, Z = 2. Supramolecular structural self-organization of I includes the formation of layers parallel to the xy plane. The high thermal stability of complex I and retention of its dinuclear structure in an acidic environment have been shown by thermal analysis and IR and electronic spectroscopy. It has been found that cluster I is an efficient catalyst for water oxidation in artificial photosynthesis.