Tracking an Fe<sup>V</sup>(O) Intermediate for Water Oxidation in Water
Xiang‐Zhu Wei, Tian‐Yu Ding, Yang Wang, Bing Yang, Qingqing Yang, Shengfa Ye, Chen‐Ho Tung, Li‐Zhu Wu
Abstract
Abstract High‐valent iron‐oxo species are appealing for conducting O−O bond formation for water oxidation reactions. However, their high reactivity poses a great challenge to the 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 Fe V (O) species formation in water. Combining kinetic and oxygen isotope labelling experiments and organic reactions indicates that the Fe V (O) species is responsible for O−O bond formation via water nucleophilic attack under the real catalytic water oxidation conditions.