Reaction progress kinetic analysis as tool to reveal ligand effects in Ce(IV)-driven IrCp* catalyzed water oxidation

A series of iridium-based complexes have been evaluated in Ce(IV)-driven water oxidation catalysis. Detailed kinetic data have been obtained from UV–vis stopped-flow experiments, and these data have been analyzed using reaction progress kinetic analysis. The graphical plots show that there are three clear phases in the reaction: catalyst activation, water oxidation catalysis, and cerium concentration controlled catalysis at the end of the reaction. The ligand attached to the IrCp* complex has a clear influence on both the activation as well as the catalysis. Some bidentate ligands result in relatively slow catalysis, and the first-order in iridium supports the presence of mononuclear active species; however, other bidentates form the more active dinuclear species. Monodentate ligands allow the formation of bis-μ-oxo bridged dimeric species, supported by kinetics displaying 1.6-order in [Ir], leading to high reaction rates.