Hydrogen production via aqueous-phase reforming of methanol catalyzed by ruthenium(II) complexes with Schiff-base pincer ligands.

Ruthenium(II) complexes with tridentate pincer ligands were tested for catalytic hydrogen production from aqueous-phase reforming of methanol. The most sterically hindered complex (C4) achieved a turnover number of 14 050. Mechanistic studies revealed that ligand dissociation and substitution play crucial roles in activating the catalyst and transforming substrates.