Multi-electron transfer catalysts for air-based organic oxidations and water oxidation

Catalysts for multi-electron-transfer events are quite complicated just as the reactions they facilitate. Two classes of such catalysts, those for the air-based oxidation of organic compounds and those for the oxidation of water, are addressed in this chapter. Brief backgrounds in both these areas are provided followed by the ensemble of current challenges in each area illustrated by two ongoing cases in point. The efficient and sustained oxidation of water to dioxygen is critical to the production of solar fuels, which in turn may ultimately be necessary given the increasing cost of ever-less-accessible fossil fuels, the projected demographic trends, and the environmental consequences of fossil fuel use. Importantly, water oxidation catalysts must be connected with other functional units (light absorbers, reduction catalysts and key interfaces) to realize nanostructures or devices that efficiently produce solar fuels. Unfortunately these functional units are dependent on each other and also on several factors, thus predicting overall operation is a challenge in complexity.