Water oxidation with transition metal catalysts with non-innocent ligands and its mechanisms.

[Display omitted] • Transition metal catalysts derived from non-innocent ligands in water oxidation. • Role of redox active non-innocent ligands are discussed. • Various types of mechanisms are illustrated for such an oxidation process. • Cyclic voltametric, kinetic, electrochemical and theoretical studies are considered. Transition metal complexes acting as catalysts towards water oxidation concern a challenging research topic with high relevance in solar and fuel conversion technologies. Non-innocent ligands with redox behavior can contribute with an important role on this field. We review herein the use as catalysts of complexes (containing single or double metal sites) with such a type of ligands on water oxidation and the corresponding reaction mechanisms as established by kinetic, electrochemical and theoretical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]