The paramagnetic dinuclear Ru2+Ru3+ complex, {RuCl[P(OMe)3]2}2(μ-S2)(μ-Cl)(μ-N2H4) (1), reduces
dioxygen by one-electron at room temperature in CH3CN to form 1
+O2
-, in which O2
- is coordinated to the
μ-S2 ligand. The dioxygen reduction is preceded by protonation to yield HO2
+ by the bridging hydrazine
ligand. Complex 1 is electrochemically more negative than HO2
+, and a redox reaction generates 1
+ and HO2
(→ O2
- + H+). Spectroscopic studies (NMR and UV−vis) show that 1 and 1
+O2
- are under equilibrium, and
the succeeding disproportionation reaction of 1
+O2
- produces two intermediates, 1
+ and the dithionite complex,
1
+(O2
-)2, as an intermediate. The dithionite intermediate undergoes Cl- dissociation and further oxidation to
yield the dinuclear Ru complex {Ru2+Cl[P(OMe)3]2}2(μ-S2O5)(μ-N2H4) (3). The liberated Cl- attacks the
dithionite complex, and induces SO4
2- dissociation to prepare the dinuclear complex {Ru3+Cl2[P(OMe)3]2}2(μ-S)(μ-N2H4) (5). On the other hand, intermediate 1
+ forms an ion pair with HSO4
-, which stems from the
liberated SO4
2-, to yield [{Ru3+Cl[P(OMe)3]2}2(μ-S2)(μ-Cl)(μ-N2H4)]+HSO4
- (4 = 1
+HSO4
-). A trace of
{Ru3+Cl[P(OMe)3]2}2(μ-S2)(μ-Cl)2 (2) is also detected in the supernatant. The UV−vis spectroscopic study
revealed that complexes 2−5 are the exclusive products and the oxidation reaction can be balanced as
follows: 14 × 1 + 4.5 O2 = 2 + 5 × 3 + 4 × 4 + 4 × 5. The 18O2/16O2 mixed-labeled oxygen studies proved
that the external oxygen was the source of oxygen for the formation of the S2O5 and HSO4
- groups in 3 and
4, respectively. The structures of 3, 4, and 5 are characterized by X-ray crystallographic structure determinations.
The dinuclear framework of complex 4 remains identical with that of 1 except for the significantly shorter
Ru−S distance. The hydrazine hydrogens of complex 3 show intramolecular hydrogen bonding, which is
reflected on a significantly low field shift of the hydrazine 1H NMR resonance. Complex 3 possesses the
μ-S2O5
2- ligand, in which the two μ-SO2-O,S
‘ bridges are linked at the sulfur atoms through the μ-oxo bonds.
Comparison of the site symmetries around the Ru atoms of 1, 3, and 5 strongly supports the occurrence of
coordination rearrangements.