Consecutive ligand-based electron transfer in new molecular Cu-based water oxidation catalysts

A family of Cu-based complexes bearing dianionic bpy-amidate ligands have been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic
and electrochemical techniques. The new complexes are capable to perform water oxidation catalysis at overpotentials between 557-
830 mV pH 11.6. A detailed electrocatalytic study in combination with computational calculations revealed the all ligand-based
nature of the electron transfer processes involved in the catalytic cycle.