Watts next? studying electrochemical reactions of c-centered radicals for sustainable energy

Abstract

Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions are involved in many vital biological processes, including enzymatic mechanisms and catalysis. PCET plays a vital role in the formation and cleavage of C–H bonds. C-centered radicals are known to be very unstable and highly reactive. Previous experiments done by Rigaut et. al. showed that Ru(II)-acetylide complexes can be oxidized to form stabilized C-centered radicals. The presence of a conjugated carbene ligand called an “allenylidene” stabilizes the radical. Our lab proposes that the investigation of ruthenium(II)-acetylide/allenylidene complexes will provide insights into the stabilization and reactivity of C-centered radicals, as well as the mechanisms behind multi-site PCET reactivity at carbon.