Azo-conjugated half-sandwich Rh/Ru complexes for homogeneous water-oxidation catalysis.

Herein we report the molecular structures and electronic properties of ionic, hydrophobic, half-sandwich complexes of the formula [η(5)-Cp*Rh(L)(MeOH)] (1) and [η(6)-CyRu(L)(H2O)] (2), where L is azo-dye compound of (p-(2-hydroxy-1-naphthylazo)benzenesulfonic acid sodium salt). Both these complexes have been investigated electrochemically and found to display good electronic properties for use as water-oxidation catalysts potentially.