Electrocatalytic activity of a polypyridyl ruthenium-oxo complex covalently attached to a graphite felt electrode

The complex [Ru-IV(tpy)(bpy)(O)](2+) grafted to a graphite felt electrode shows electrocatalytic activity toward primary and secondary alcohols. Kinetic analyses highlights the contribution of the immobilized catalyst to the oxidation of benzenemethanol to the corresponding aldehyde, whereas the formation of benzoic acid from benzaldehyde is mostly due to a direct oxidation at the graphite electrode. In contrast to the catalyst in solution, the immobilized catalyst exhibits poor activity toward compounds containing C-H bonds adjacent to unsaturated bonds.