Metal–Ligand Cooperative Control of Reactivity in a Porphyrin Manganese(IV)–Oxo–Phenoxyl Radical Complex for Water Activation
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The Oxygen Evolving Complex (OEC) is a Mn 4 Ca cluster at the heart of Photosystem II that catalyzes the water oxidation reaction. Recent studies suggest the formation of a Mn(IV)‐oxyl species in the OEC, accompanied by a nonbonded tyrosinyl radical in the S 3 ′ state, prior to O─O bond formation and O 2 release. In this study, we designed and synthesized a manganese‐based porphyrin laterally appended with an imidazole–phenol pair. We found that the [Mn III PImiPhOH] + can promote electrocatalytic water oxidation in basic medium, resulting in O 2 evolution. UV–Vis, EPR, and resonance Raman spectroscopic studies support the formation of a doubly oxidized intermediate, best described as a Mn IV ═O species weakly coupled to a neighboring phenoxyl radical, formulated as [Mn IV (O)PImiPhO • ] + . DFT calculations provided further insight into the electronic structure of this reactive intermediate and revealed that its reaction with OH − should lead to the formation of a Mn III –OOH species. For comparison, the parent Mn III TPP does not exhibit water oxidation activity under identical experimental conditions. This study therefore provides new perspectives for the rational design of first‐row transition‐metal complexes catalysts for the water oxidation reaction, highlighting the important role of secondary sphere functionalities in promoting O─O bond formation and catalytic activity.
Source: ChemistryEurope
DOI: 10.1002/ceur.70358
Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paris-Saclay, Institut de Chimie Moléculaire et des Matériaux d'Orsay, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Aix-Marseille Université, Institut des Matériaux, de Microélectronique et des Nanosciences de Provence, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule, Centrale Méditerranée, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires de Marseille
Language: English
Subfield: Inorganic Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7212060011