Tracking an FeV(O) Intermediate for Water Oxidation in Water

However, their high reactivity poses a great challenge to dissection of their chemical transformations. Herein, we introduce an electron-rich and oxidation-resistant ligand, 2-[(2,2’-bipyridin)-6-yl]propan-2-ol to stabilize such fleeting intermediates.

Advanced spectroscopies and electrochemical studies demonstrate a high-valent FeV(O) species formation in water. Combining kinetic and oxygen isotope labelling experiments and organic reactions indicates that the FeV(O) species is responsible for O–O bond formation via water nucleophilic attack under the real catalytic water oxidation condition.