Photoreactivity of hexakis[μ-(acetato-O:O′)]-μ3-oxotriruthenium(III) cation. Photoreduction by oxalate

In the presence of oxalate the trinuclear oxide-bridged complex [RuIII3O(acetate)6(CH3OH)3]+ in methanol undergoes a photoreduction to the RuII/RuIII mixed-valence complex [Ru3O(acetate)6(CH3OH)3] with φ=0.01 and 5×10−4 at λirr=366 and 546 nm, respectively. It is suggested that the photolysis is initiated by an oxalate to Ru(III) CT state.