Photocatalytic generation of a non-heme oxoiron(IV) complex with water as an oxygen source.

The photocatalytic formation of a non-heme oxoiron(IV) complex, [(N4Py)Fe(IV)(O)](2+) [N4Py = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N-bis(2-pyridyl)methylamine], efficiently proceeds via electron transfer from the excited state of a ruthenium complex, [Ru(II)(bpy)(3)](2+)* (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) to [Co(III)(NH(3))(5)Cl](2+) and stepwise electron-transfer oxidation of [(N4Py)Fe(II)](2+) with 2 equiv of [Ru(III)(bpy)(3)](3+) and H(2)O as an oxygen source. The oxoiron(IV) complex was independently generated by both chemical oxidation of [(N4Py)Fe(II)](2+) with [Ru(III)(bpy)(3)](3+) and electrochemical oxidation of [(N4Py)Fe(II)](2+).