Mimicking Photosystem II Reactions in Artificial Photosynthesis

The paper describes a project aiming at the construction of functional mimics of the oxygen evolving complex of Photosystem II, coupled to photoinduced charge separation. Biomimetic electron donors - manganese complexes and tyrosine - have been linked to a Ru(II)-polypyridine photosensitizer. Oxidation of the donors by intramolecular electron transfer from the photo-oxidized Ru(III) complex was demonstrated using optical flash photolysis and EPR experiments. A step-wise electron transfer Mn → tyrosine → Ru(III) was demonstrated, in a sequence analogous to reactions of the PSII donor side.