Absorption, Circular Dichroism, and Luminescence Spectroscopy of Electrogenerated Delta-[Ru(bipy)(3)](+/0/)(-) and Delta-[Os(bipy)(3)](+/0/)(-) (bipy = 2,2'-Bipyridine)

The electronic absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectra of the complexes produced by the one, two, and three electron reduction of Delta-[Ru(bipy)(3)](2+) and Delta-[Os(bipy)(3)](2+) are reported. The CD spectra give unequivocal proof that the added electrons are localized on individual bipiridine ligands and thus that the complexes are correctly formulated [M(bipy)(2)(bipy(-))](+), [M(bipy)(bipy(-))(2)](0), and [M(bipy(-))(3)](-). The absorption spectra of the triply reduced species [M(bipy(-))(3)](-) (M = Ru, Os) are compared to those of the Fe(II) and Ir(III) analogs. The luminescence spectra of the two triply reduced complexes [Ru(bipy(-))(3)](-) and [Os(bipy(-))(3)](-). are also presented. The MLCT luminescence found in the parent complexes is completely quenched and is replaced by a weak luminescence attributed to the pi(10) --> pi(7) transition of the (coordinated) [bipy](-) ion.     

Reinvestigating 2,5-di(pyridin-2-yl)pyrazine ruthenium complexes: selective deuteration and Raman spectroscopy as tools to probe ground and excited-state electronic structure in homo- and heterobimetallic complexes

The mono- (1) and dinuclear (2) ruthenium(II) bis(2,2'-bipyridine) complexes of 2,5-di(pyridin-2-yl)pyrazine (2,5-dpp), for which the UV/Vis absorption and emission as well as electrochemical properties have been described earlier, are reinvestigated here by resonance, surface enhanced and transient resonance Raman spectroscopy together with selective deuteration to determine the location of the lowest lying excited metal to ligand charge transfer ((3)MLCT) states. The ground state absorption spectrum of both the mono- and dinuclear complexes are characterised by resonance Raman spectroscopy. The effect of deuteration on emission lifetimes together with the absence of characteristic bipy anion radical modes in the transient Raman spectra for both the mono- and dinuclear complexes bridged by the 2,5-dpp ligand confirms that the excited state is 2,5-dpp based; however DFT calculations and the effect of deuteration on emission lifetimes indicate that the bipy based MLCT states contribute to excited state deactivation. Resonance Raman and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) data for 1 and 2 are compared with that of the heterobimetallic complexes [Ru(bipy)(2)(2,5-dpp)PdCl(2)](2+)3 and [Ru(bipy)(2)(2,5-dpp)PtCl(2)](2+)4. The SERS data for 1 indicates that a heterobimetallic Ru-Au complex forms in situ upon addition of 1 to a gold colloid.     

Redox and spectroscopic orbitals in Ru(II) and Os(II) phenolate complexes

A detailed spectroscopic and electrochemical study of a series of novel phenolate bound complexes, of general formulas [M(L-L)(2)(box)](PF(6)), where M is Os and Ru, L-L is 2,2-bipyridine or 2,2-biquinoline, and box is 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole, is presented. The objectives of this study were to probe the origin of the LUMOs and HOMOs in these complexes, to elucidate the impact of metal and counter ligand on the electronic properties of the complex, and to identify the extent of orbital mixing in comparison with considerably more frequently studied quinoid complexes. [M(L-L)(2)(box)](PF(6)) complexes exhibit a rich electronic spectroscopy extending into the near infrared region and good photostability, making them potentially useful as solar sensitizers. Electrochemistry and spectroscopy indicate that the first oxidation is metal based and is associated with the M(II)/(III) redox states. A second oxidative wave, which is irreversible at slow scan rates, is associated with the phenolate ligand. The stabilities of the oxidized complexes are assessed using dynamic electrochemistry and discussed from the perspective of metal and counter ligand (LL) identity and follow the order of increasing stability [Ru(biq)(2)(box)](+) < [Ru(bpy)(2)(box)](+) < [Os(bpy)(2)(box)](+). Electronic and resonance Raman spectroscopy indicate that the lowest energy optical transition for the ruthenium complexes is a phenolate (pi) to L-L (pi) interligand charge-transfer transition (ILCT) suggesting the HOMO is phenolate based whereas electrochemical data suggest that the HOMO is metal based. This unusual lack of correlation between redox and spectroscopically assigned orbitals is discussed in terms of metal-ligand orbital mixing which appears to be most significant in the biquinoline based complex.     

Tetranuclear polybipyridyl complexes of Ru(II) and Mn(II), their electro- and photo-induced transformation into di-mu-oxo Mn(III)Mn(IV) hexanuclear complexes

Three heterotetranuclear complexes, [{Ru(II)(bpy)(2)(L(n))}(3)Mn(II)](8+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, n = 2, 4, 6), in which a Mn(II)-tris-bipyridine-like centre is covalently linked to three Ru(II)-tris-bipyridine-like moieties using bridging bis-bipyridine L(n) ligands, have been synthesised and characterised. The electrochemical, photophysical and photochemical properties of these complexes have been investigated in CH(3)CN. The cyclic voltammograms of the three complexes exhibit two successive very close one-electron metal-centred oxidation processes in the positive potential region. The first, which is irreversible, corresponds to the Mn(II)/Mn(III) redox system (E(pa) approximately 0.82 V vs Ag/Ag(+) 0.01 M in CH(3)CN-0.1 M Bu(4)NClO(4)), whereas the second which is, reversible, is associated with the Ru(II)/Ru(III) redox couple (E(1/2) approximately 0.91 V). In the negative potential region, three successive reversible four electron systems are observed, corresponding to ligand-based reduction processes. The three stable dimeric oxidized forms of the complexes, [Mn(2)(III,IV)O(2){Ru(II)(bpy)(2)(L(n))}(4)](11+), [Mn(2)(IV,IV)O(2){Ru(II)(bpy)(2)(L(n))}(4)](12+) and [Mn(2)(IV,IV)O(2){Ru(III)(bpy)(2)(L(n))}(4)](16+) are obtained in fairly good yields by sequential electrolyses after consumption of respectively 1.5, 0.5 and 3 electrons per molecule of initial tetranuclear complexes. The formation of the di-micro-oxo binuclear complexes are the result of the instability of the {[Ru(II)(bpy)(2)(L(n))](3)Mn(III)}(9+) species, which react with residual water, via a disproportionation reaction and the release of one ligand, [Ru(II)(bpy)(2)(L(n))](2+). A quantitative yield can be obtained for these reactions if the electrochemical oxidations are performed in the presence of an added external base like 2,6-dimethylpyridine. Photophysical properties of these compounds have been investigated showing that the luminescence of the Ru(II)-tris-bipyridine-like moieties is little affected by the presence of manganese within the tetranuclear complexes. A slight quenching of the excited states of the ruthenium moieties, which occurs by an intramolecular process, has been observed. Measurements made at low concentration (<1 x 10(-5) M) indicate that some decoordination of Mn(2+) arises in 1a-c. These measurements allow the calculation of the association constants for these complexes. Finally, photoinduced oxidation of the tetranuclear complexes has been performed by continuous photolysis experiments in the presence of a large excess of a diazonium salt, acting as a sacrificial oxidant. The three successive oxidation processes, Mn(II)--> Mn(III)Mn(IV), Mn(III)Mn(IV)--> Mn(IV)Mn(IV) and Ru(II)--> Ru(III) are thus obtained, the addition of 2,6-dimethylpyridine in the medium giving an essentially quantitative yield for the two first photo-induced oxidation steps as found for electrochemical oxidation.     

The synthesis and structure of heteroleptic tris(diimine)ruthenium(II) complexes

The reactions of bidentate diimine ligands (L2) with cationic bis(diimine)[Ru(L)(L1)(CO)Cl]+ complexes (L, L1, L2 are dissimilar diimine ligands), in the presence of trimethylamine-N-oxide (Me3NO) as a decarbonylation reagent, lead to the formation of heteroleptic tris(diimine) ruthenium(II) complexes, [Ru(L)(L1)(L2)]2+. Typically isolated as hexafluorophosphate or perchlorate salts, these complexes were characterised by UV-visible, infrared and mass spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, microanalyses and NMR spectroscopy. Single crystal X-ray studies have elucidated the structures of K[Ru(bpy)(phen)(4,4'-Me(2)bpy)](PF(6))(3).1/2H(2)O, [Ru(bpy)(5,6-Me(2)phen)(Hdpa)](ClO(4))(2), [Ru(bpy)(phen)(5,6-Me(2)phen)](ClO(4))(2), [Ru(bpy)(5,6'-Me(2)phen)(4,4'-Me(2)bpy)](PF(6))(2).EtOH, [Ru(4,4'-Me(2)bpy)(phen)(Hdpa)](PF(6))(2).MeOH and [Ru(bpy)(4,4'-Me(2)bpy)(Hdpa)](ClO(4))(2).1/2Hdpa (where Hdpa is di(2-pyridyl)amine). A novel feature of the first complex is the presence of a dinuclear anionic adduct, [K(2)(PF(6))(6)](4-), in which the two potassium centres are bridged by two fluorides from different hexafluorophosphate ions forming a K(2)F(2) bridging unit and by two KFPFK bridging moieties.     

Heteronuclear bipyrimidine-bridged Ru-Ln and Os-Ln dyads: low-energy 3MLCT states as energy-donors to Yb(III) and Nd(III)

The complexes [Ru((t)Bu(2)bipy)(bpym)X(2)] (X = Cl, NCS) and [M((t)Bu(2)bipy)(2)(bpym)][PF(6)](2) (M = Ru, Os) all have a low-energy LUMO arising from the presence of a 2,2'-bipyrimidine ligand, and consequently have lower-energy (1)MLCT and (3)MLCT states than analogous complexes of bipyridine. The vacant site of the bpym ligand provides a site at which [Ln(diketonate)(3)] units can bind to afford bipyrimidine-bridged dinuclear Ru-Ln and Os-Ln dyads; four such complexes have been structurally characterised. UV/Vis and luminescence spectroscopic studies show that binding of the Ln(III) fragment at the second site of the bpym ligand reduces the (3)MLCT energy of the Ru or Os fragment still further. The result is that in the dyads [Ru((t)Bu(2)bipy)X(2)(mu-bpym)Ln(diketonate)(3)] (X = Cl, NCS) and [Os((t)Bu(2)bipy)(2)(mu-bpym)Ln(diketonate)(3)][PF(6)](2) the (3)MLCT is too low to sensitise the luminescent f-f states of Nd(III) and Yb(III), but in [Ru((t)Bu(2)bipy)(2)(mu-bpym)Ln(diketonate)(3)][PF(6)](2) the (3)MLCT energy of 13,500 cm(-1) permits energy transfer to Yb(III) and Nd(III) resulting in sensitised near-infrared luminescence on the microsecond timescale.     

High turnover catalysis of water oxidation by Mn(II) complexes of monoanionic pentadentate ligands

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) and electrospray ionisation (ESI) mass spectra of aqueous solutions of manganese(II) complexes of the monoanions of the pentadentate ligands N-methyl-N'-carboxymethyl-N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine (mcbpen(-)) and N-benzyl-N'-carboxymethyl-N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine (bcbpen(-)), show the presence of a mixture of closely related Mn(II) species, assigned to the mono, di-, tri- and poly-cationic complexes [Mn(II)(L)(H(2)O)](n)(n+), L = mcbpen(-) or bcbpen(-) with n = 1, 2, 3, etc. In solution, these complexes are reversibly oxidized by tert-butyl hydrogen peroxide (TBHP), (NH(4))(2)[Ce(NO(3))(6)], Ce(ClO(4))(4), oxone and [Ru(bipy)(3)](3+) to form metastable (t(?) = min to h) higher valent (hydr)oxide species, showing a collective maximum absorbance at 430 nm. The same species can be produced by [Ru(bipy)(3)](2+)-mediated photooxidization in the presence of an electron acceptor. TBHP oxidation of the complexes, in large excesses of the TBHP, is concurrent with an O(2) evolution with turnovers of up to 1.5 × 10(4) mol of O(2) per mol of [Mn] and calculated rate constants from two series of experiments of 0.039 and 0.026 mol[O(2)] s(-1) M(-2). A 1:1 reaction of TBHP with [Mn] is rate determining and the resultant species is proposed to be the mononuclear, catalytically competent, [Mn(IV)(O)(mcbpen)](+). At very close m/z values [Mn(III)(OH)(mcbpen)](+), [Mn(2)(III/IV)(O)(2)(mcbpen)(2)](+) and [Mn(IV)(2)(O)(2)(mcbpen)(2)](2+) are detected by ESI MS and CE when the concentration of TBHP is comparable to or lower than that of [Mn]. These are conditions that occur post catalysis and these species are derived from [Mn(IV)(O)(mcbpen)](+) through condensation reactions.     

Fe(bipy)(CN)(4)](-) as a versatile building block for the design of heterometallic systems: synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of PPh(4)[Fe(III)(bipy)(CN)(4)] x H(2)O, [[Fe(III)(bipy)(CN)(4)](2)M(II)(H(2)O)(4)] x 4H(2)O, and [[Fe(III)(bipy)(CN)(4)](2)Zn(II)] x 2H(2)O [bipy = 2,2'-Bipyridine; M = Mn and Zn

The new cyano complexes of formulas PPh(4)[Fe(III)(bipy)(CN)(4)] x H(2)O (1), [[Fe(III)(bipy)(CN)(4)](2)M(II)(H(2)O)(4)] x 4H(2)O with M = Mn (2) and Zn (3), and [[Fe(III)(bipy)(CN)(4)](2)Zn(II)] x 2H(2)O (4) [bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine and PPh(4) = tetraphenylphosphonium cation] have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The structure of complex 1 is made up of mononuclear [Fe(bipy)(CN)(4)](-) anions, tetraphenyphosphonium cations, and water molecules of crystallization. The iron(III) is hexacoordinated with two nitrogen atoms of a chelating bipy and four carbon atoms of four terminal cyanide groups, building a distorted octahedron around the metal atom. The structure of complexes 2 and 3 consists of neutral centrosymmetric [[Fe(III)(bipy)(CN)(4)](2)M(II)(H(2)O)(4)] heterotrinuclear units and crystallization water molecules. The [Fe(bipy)(CN)(4)](-) entity of 1 is present in 2 and 3 acting as a monodentate ligand toward M(H(2)O)(4) units [M = Mn(II) (2) and Zn(II) (3)] through one cyanide group, the other three cyanides remaining terminal. Four water molecules and two cyanide nitrogen atoms from two [Fe(bipy)(CN)(4)](-) units in trans positions build a distorted octahedron surrounding Mn(II) (2) and Zn(II) (3). The structure of the [Fe(phen)(CN)(4)](-) complex ligand in 2 and 3 is close to that of the one in 1. The intramolecular Fe-M distances are 5.126(1) and 5.018(1) A in 2 and 3, respectively. 4 exhibits a neutral one-dimensional polymeric structure containing two types of [Fe(bipy)(CN)(4)](-) units acting as bismonodentate (Fe(1)) and trismonodentate (Fe(2)) ligands versus the divalent zinc cations through two cis-cyanide (Fe(1)) and three fac-cyanide (Fe(2)) groups. The environment of the iron atoms in 4 is distorted octahedral as in 1-3, whereas the zinc atom is pentacoordinated with five cyanide nitrogen atoms, describing a very distorted square pyramid. The iron-zinc separations across the single bridging cyanides are 5.013(1) and 5.142(1) A at Fe(1) and 5.028(1), 5.076(1), and 5.176(1) A at Fe(2). The magnetic properties of 1-3 have been investigated in the temperature range 2.0-300 K. 1 is a low-spin iron(III) complex with an important orbital contribution. The magnetic properties of 3 correspond to the sum of two magnetically isolated spin triplets, the antiferromagnetic coupling between the low-spin iron(III) centers through the -CN-Zn-NC- bridging skeleton (iron-iron separation larger than 10 A) being very weak. More interestingly, 2 exhibits a significant intramolecular antiferromagnetic interaction between the central spin sextet and peripheral spin doublets, leading to a low-lying spin quartet.     

Bis(amido)ruthenium(IV) Complexes with 2,3-Diamino-2,3-dimethylbutane. Crystal Structure and Reversible Ru(IV)-Amide/Ru(III)-Amine and Ru(IV)-Amide/Ru(II)- Amine Redox Couples in Aqueous Solution

Two bis(amido)ruthenium(IV) complexes, [Ru(IV)(bpy)(L-H)(2)](2+) and [Ru(IV)(L)(L-H)(2)](2+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, L = 2,3-diamino-2,3-dimethylbutane, L-H = (H(2)NCMe(2)CMe(2)NH)(-)), were prepared by chemical oxidation of [Ru(II)(bpy)(L)(2)](2+) and the reaction of [(n-Bu)(4)N][Ru(VI)NCl(4)] with L, respectively. The structures of [Ru(bpy)(L-H)(2)][ZnBr(4)].CH(3)CN and [Ru(L)(L-H)(2)]Cl(2).2H(2)O were determined by X-ray crystal analysis. [Ru(bpy)(L-H)(2)][ZnBr(4)].CH(3)CN crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n with a = 12.597(2) ?, b = 15.909(2) ?, c = 16.785(2) ?, beta = 91.74(1) degrees, and Z = 4. [Ru(L)(L-H)(2)]Cl(2).2H(2)O crystallizes in the tetragonal space group I4(1)/a with a = 31.892(6) ?, c = 10.819(3) ?, and Z = 16. In both complexes, the two Ru-N(amide) bonds are cis to each other with bond distances ranging from 1.835(7) to 1.856(7) ?. The N(amide)-Ru-N(amide) angles are about 110 degrees. The two Ru(IV) complexes are diamagnetic, and the chemical shifts of the amide protons occur at around 13 ppm. Both complexes display reversible metal-amide/metal-amine redox couples in aqueous solution with a pyrolytic graphite electrode. Depending on the pH of the media, reversible/quasireversible 1e(-)-2H(+) Ru(IV)-amide/Ru(III)-amine and 2e(-)-2H(+) Ru(IV)-amide/Ru(II)-amine redox couples have been observed. At pH = 1.0, the E degrees is 0.46 V for [Ru(IV)(bpy)(L-H)(2)](2+)/[Ru(III)(bpy)(L)(2)](3+) and 0.29 V vs SCE for [Ru(IV)(L)(L-H)(2)](2+)/[Ru(III)(L)(3)](3+). The difference in the E degrees values for the two Ru(IV)-amide complexes has been attributed to the fact that the chelating saturated diamine ligand is a better sigma-donor than 2,2'-bipyridine.     

Synthesis, structures, and properties of ruthenium(II) complexes of N-(1,10-phenanthrolin-2-yl)imidazolylidenes

Mononuclear ruthenium complexes [RuCl(L1)(CH(3)CN)(2)](PF(6)) (2a), [RuCl(L2)(CH(3)CN)(2)](PF(6)) (2b), [Ru(L1)(CH(3)CN)(3)](PF(6))(2) (4a), [Ru(L2)(CH(3)CN)(3)](PF(6))(2) (4b), [Ru(L2)(2)](PF(6))(2) (5), [RuCl(L1)(CH(3)CN)(PPh(3))](PF(6)) (6), [RuCl(L1)(CO)(2)](PF(6)) (7), and [RuCl(L1)(CO)(PPh(3))](PF(6)) (8), and a tetranuclear complex [Ru(2)Ag(2)Cl(2)(L1)(2)(CH(3)CN)(6)](PF(6))(4) (3) containing 3-(1,10-phenanthrolin-2-yl)-1-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)imidazolylidene (L1) and 3-butyl-1-(1,10-phenanthrolin-2-yl)imidazolylidene (L2) have been prepared and fully characterized by NMR, ESI-MS, UV-vis spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. Both L1 and L2 act as pincer NNC donors coordinated to ruthenium (II) ion. In 3, the Ru(II) and Ag(I) ions are linked by two bridging Cl(-) through a rhomboid Ag(2)Cl(2) ring with two Ru(II) extending to above and down the plane. Complexes 2-8 show absorption maximum over the 354-428 nm blueshifted compared to Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) due to strong σ-donating and weak π-acceptor properties of NHC ligands. Electrochemical studies show Ru(II)/Ru(III) couples over 0.578-1.274 V.     

DNA mismatch detection by resonance energy transfer between ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) chromophores

Octahedral tris-chelate complexes [M(II)(bpy)(3)](2+) (M = Ru or Os, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridyl), covalently attached to the 3'- and 5'-phosphates of two oligonucleotides, are juxtaposed when hybridized contiguously to a fully complementary DNA target. Visible metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) excitation of the [Ru(II)(bpy)(3)](2+) unit leads to resonance energy transfer to the MLCT state of the [Os(II)(bpy)(3)](2+) moiety, with the energy transfer efficiency depending on the degree of hybridization. The extent of attenuation of the intense red luminescence from the Ru(II) chromophore hence allows highly sensitive structural probing of the assembly and constitutes a novel approach to DNA sensing which is capable of detecting mutations.     

Electrochemiluminescent peptide nucleic acid-like monomers containing Ru(II)-dipyridoquinoxaline and Ru(II)-dipyridophenazine complexes

A series of Ru(II)-peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-like monomers, [Ru(bpy)(2)(dpq-L-PNA-OH)](2+) (M1), [Ru(phen)(2)(dpq-L-PNA-OH)](2+) (M2), [Ru(bpy)(2)(dppz-L-PNA-OH)](2+) (M3), and [Ru(phen)(2)(dppz-L-PNA-OH)](2+) (M4) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, dpq-L-PNA-OH = 2-(N-(2-(((9H-fluoren-9-yl)methoxy)carbonylamino)ethyl)-6-(dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine-11-carboxamido)hexanamido)acetic acid, dppz-L-PNA-OH = 2-(N-(2-(((9H-fluoren-9-yl) methoxy)carbonylamino)ethyl)-6-(dipyrido[3,2-f:2',3'-h]quinoxaline-2-carboxamido)acetic acid) have been synthesized and characterized by IR and (1)H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. As is typical for Ru(II)-tris(diimine) complexes, acetonitrile solutions of these complexes (M1-M4) show MLCT transitions in the 443-455 nm region and emission maxima at 618, 613, 658, and 660 nm, respectively, upon photoexcitation at 450 nm. Changes in the ligand environment around the Ru(II) center are reflected in the luminescence and electrochemical response obtained from these monomers. The emission intensity and quantum yield for M1 and M2 were found to be higher than for M3 and M4. Electrochemical studies in acetonitrile show the Ru(II)-PNA monomers to undergo a one-electron redox process associated with Ru(II) to Ru(III) oxidation. A positive shift was observed in the reversible redox potentials for M1-M4 (962, 951, 936, and 938 mV, respectively, vs Fc(0/+) (Fc = ferrocene)) in comparison with [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) (888 mV vs Fc(0/+)). The ability of the Ru(II)-PNA monomers to generate electrochemiluminescence (ECL) was assessed in acetonitrile solutions containing tripropylamine (TPA) as a coreactant. Intense ECL signals were observed with emission maxima for M1-M4 at 622, 616, 673, and 675 nm, respectively. At an applied potential sufficiently positive to oxidize the ruthenium center, the integrated intensity for ECL from the PNA monomers was found to vary in the order M1 (62%) > M3 (60%) > M4 (46%) > M2 (44%) with respect to [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) (100%). These findings indicate that such Ru(II)-PNA bioconjugates could be investigated as multimodal labels for biosensing applications.     

Electropolymerization of vinylbipyridine complexes of ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) in SiO2 sol-gel films

PF(6)(-) salts of the complexes [Ru(vbpy)(3)](2+) and [Os(vbpy)(3)](2+) (vbpy = 4-methyl-4'-vinyl-2,2'-bipyridine) have been electropolymerized into the pores of SiO(2) sol-gel films deposited on conductive Tin(IV)-doped indium oxide-coated glass slides (ITO, In(2)O(3):Sn). The resulting transparent composites represent a new class of materials of general formulas ITO/SG-poly-[Ru(vbpy)(3)](PF(6))(2) and ITO/SG-poly-[Os(vbpy)(3)](PF(6))(2). The composites are stable with respect to loss of complexes to the external solution and demonstrate several interesting phenomena: (1) Sol-gel pores, serving as diffusion channels for the vbpy complexes and counterions, play a key role in the formation of the polymer and dictate the electrochemical properties of the resulting composite. (2) Dynamic polymer growth occurs within individual diffusion channels creating parallel structures of filled and unfilled channels. (3) Unidirectional charge transfer and a "bilayer" effect have been shown to operate in ITO/SG-poly-[Ru(vbpy)(3)](PF(6))(2) films exposed to [Os(vbpy)(3)](PF(6))(2) in the external solution. (4) Photophysical properties of the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited states in ITO/SG-poly-[Ru(vbpy)(3)](PF(6))(2) composites are significantly modified compared to electropolymerized films on ITO or model monomeric complexes in solution.     

Chemiluminescence from osmium(II) complexes with phenanthroline, diphosphine and diarsine ligands

The reaction of various [Os(L)(2)(L')](2+) complexes (where L and L' are phenanthroline, diphosphine or diarsine ligands) and organic reducing agents after chemical or electrochemical oxidation of the reactants produces an emission of light corresponding to MLCT transitions. In certain instances, the emission was greater than that of [Ru(bipy)(3)](2+), but the relative signals were dependent on many factors, including reagent concentration, mode of oxidation, reducing agent and the sensitivity of the photodetector over the wavelength range.     

Photophysical and novel charge-transfer properties of adducts between [RuII(bpy)3]2+ and [S2Mo18O62]4-

The photophysical properties of acetonitrile solutions of [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) and [S(2)Mo(18)O(62)](4-) are described. We discuss evidence for ion cluster formation in solution and the observation that despite the strong donor ability of the excited state of [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) and its inherent photolability, adducts with [S(2)Mo(18)O(62)](4-) were photostable. Photophysical studies suggest that the quenching of the [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) excited state by [S(2)Mo(18)O(62)](4-) occurs via a static mechanism and that binding is largely electrostatic in nature. Evidence is provided from difference spectroscopy and luminescence excitation spectroscopy for good electronic communication between [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) and [S(2)Mo(18)O(62)](4-) with the presence of a novel, luminescent, inter-ion charge-transfer transition. The identity of the transition is confirmed by resonance Raman spectroscopy.     

Tuning of redox potentials by introducing a cyclometalated bond to bis-tridentate ruthenium(II) complexes bearing bis(N-methylbenzimidazolyl)benzene or -pyridine ligands

A series of asymmetrical bis-tridentate cyclometalated complexes including [Ru(Mebib)(Mebip)](+), [Ru(Mebip)(dpb)](+), [Ru(Mebip)(Medpb)](+), and [Ru(Mebib)(tpy)](+) and two bis-tridentate noncyclometalated complexes [Ru(Mebip)(2)](2+) and [Ru(Mebip)(tpy)](2+) were prepared and characterized, where Mebib is bis(N-methylbenzimidazolyl)benzene, Mebip is bis(N-methylbenzimidazolyl)pyridine, dpb is 1,3-di-2-pyridylbenzene, Medpb is 4,6-dimethyl-1,3-di-2-pyridylbenzene, and tpy is 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine. The solid-state structure of [Ru(Mebip)(Medpb)](+) is studied by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of these ruthenium complexes were studied and compared with those of known complexes [Ru(tpy)(dpb)](+) and [Ru(tpy)(2)](2+). The change of the supporting ligands and coordination environment allows progressive modulation of the metal-associated redox potentials (Ru(II/III)) from +0.26 to +1.32 V vs Ag/AgCl. The introduction of a ruthenium cyclometalated bond in these complexes results in a significant negative potential shift. The Ru(II/III) potentials of these complexes were analyzed on the basis of Lever's electrochemical parameters (E(L)). Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations were carried out to elucidate the electronic structures and spectroscopic spectra of complexes with Mebib or Mebip ligands.     

Synthesis and structure studies of complexes of some second row transition metals with 1-(phenylacetyl and phenoxyacetyl)-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazide

The synthesis of the new complexes of 1-phenylacetyl-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazide (H2papts) and 1-phenoxyacetyl-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazide (H2Pxapts); [Ru(HL)2(H2O)2], [Rh(HL)3], [Ag(H2L)(H2O)2](NO3), trans-[UO2(HL)(bipy)(AcO)(H2O)2] (H2L = H2papts, H2pxapts; bipy = 2,2'-bipyridyl), [Ag(H2papts)(bipy)]+ and [Pd-(Hpapts)(bipy)]+ is described. Characterization of these complexes by IR, electronic and 1H-NMR spectra, conductometric titrations and thermal analysis is included. The complexes [Ru(HL)2(H2O)2] were found to be efficient catalysts for the oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes and acids, secondary alcohols to ketones and aryl halides to aldehydes and acids in the presence of NaIO4 as co-oxidant.     

Ruthenium(II) dendrimers containing carbazole-based chromophores as branches

Three new luminescent and redox-active Ru(II) complexes containing novel dendritic polypyridine ligands have been synthesized, and their absorption spectra, luminescence properties (both at room temperature in fluid solution and at 77 K in rigid matrix), and redox behavior have been investigated. The dendritic ligands are made of 1,10-phenanthroline coordinating subunits and of carbazole groups as branching sites. The first and second generation species of this novel class of dendritic ligands (L1 and L2, respectively; see Figure 1 for their structural formulas) have been prepared and employed. The metal dendrimers investigated are [Ru(bpy)(2)(L1)](2+) (1; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine), [Ru(bpy)(2)(L2)](2+) (2), and [Ru(L1)(3)](2+) (3; see Figure 2). For the sake of completeness and comparison purposes, also the absorption spectra, redox behavior, and luminescence properties of L1 and L2 have been studied, together with the properties of 3,6-di(tert-butyl)carbazole (L0) and [Ru(bpy)(2)(phen)](2+) (4, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline). The absorption spectra of the free dendritic ligands show features which can be assigned to the various subunits (i.e., carbazole and phenanthroline groups) and additional bands at lower energies (at lambda > 300 nm) which are assigned to carbazole-to-phenanthroline charge-transfer (CT) transitions. These latter bands are significantly red-shifted upon acid and/or zinc acetate addition. Both L1 and L2 exhibit relatively intense luminescence at room temperature in fluid solution (lifetimes in the nanosecond time scale, quantum yields of the order of 10(-2)-10(-1)) and at 77 K in rigid matrix (lifetimes in the millisecond time scale). Such a luminescence is assigned to CT states at room temperature and to phenanthroline-centered pi-pi triplet levels at 77 K. The room-temperature luminescence of L1 and L2 is totally quenched by acid or zinc acetate. The metal dendrimers exhibit the typical absorption and luminescence properties of Ru(II) polypyridine complexes. In particular, metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) bands dominate the visible absorption spectra, and formally triplet MLCT levels govern the excited-state properties. Excitation spectroscopy evidences that all the light absorbed by the dendritic branches is transferred with unitary efficiency to the luminescent MLCT states in 1-3, showing that the new metal dendrimers can be regarded as efficient light-harvesting antenna systems. All the free ligands and metal dendrimers exhibit a rich redox behavior (except L2 and 3, whose redox behavior was not investigated because of solubility reasons), with clearly attributable reversible carbazole- and metal-centered oxidation and polypyridine-centered reduction processes. The electronic interaction between the carbazole redox-active sites of the dendritic ligands is affected by Ru(II) coordination.     

New ruthenium(II) complexes with enantiomerically pure bis- and tris(pinene)-fused tridentate ligands. Synthesis, characterization and stereoisomeric analysis

A new set of Ru-Cl complexes containing either the pinene[5,6]bpea ligand (L1) or the C3 symmetric pinene[4,5]tpmOMe (L2) tridentate ligand in combination with the bidentate (B) 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) or 1,2-diphenylphosphinoethane (dppe) with general formula [RuCl(L1 or L2)(B)](+) have been prepared and thoroughly characterized. In the solid state, X-ray diffraction analysis techniques have been used. In solution, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy have been employed. DFT calculations have been also performed on these complexes and their achiral analogues previously reported in our group, to interpret and complement experimental results. Whereas isomerically pure complexes ([Ru(II)Cl(L2)(bpy)](BF4), 5 and [Ru(II)Cl(L2)(dppe)](BF4), 6) are obtained when starting from the highly symmetric [Ru(III)Cl3(L2)], 2, isomeric mixtures of cis, fac-[Ru(II)Cl(L1)(bpy)](BF4) (3b/3b'), trans,fac- (3a) and up/down,mer- (3c, 3d) isomers are formed when bpy is added to the less symmetric [Ru(III)Cl3(L1)], 1, in contrast to the case of the bulky dppe ligand that, upon coordination to 1, leads to the trans,fac-[Ru(II)Cl(L1)(dppe)](BF4) (4a) complex as a sole isomer due to steric factors.     

Self-assembly in palladium(II) and platinum(II) chemistry: the biomimetic approach

The self-assembly of complex cationic structures by combination of cis-blocked square planar palladium(II) or platinum(II) units with bis(pyridyl) ligands having bridging amide units has been investigated. The reactions have yielded dimers, molecular triangles, and polymers depending primarily on the geometry of the bis(pyridyl) ligand. In many cases, the molecular units are further organized in the solid state through hydrogen bonding between amide units or between amide units and anions. The molecular triangle [Pt(3)(bu(2)bipy)(3)(mu-1)(3)](6+), M = Pd or Pt, bu(2)bipy = 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine, and 1 = N-(4-pyridinyl)isonicotinamide, stacks to give dimers by intertriangle NH.OC hydrogen bonding. The binuclear ring complexes [[Pd(LL)(mu-2)](2)](CF(3)SO(3))(4), LL = dppm = Ph(2)PCH(2)PPh(2) or dppp = Ph(2)P(CH(2))(3)PPh(2) and 2 = NC(5)H(4)-3-CH(2)NHCOCONHCH(2)-3-C(5)H(4)N, form transannular hydrogen bonds between the bridging ligands. The complexes [[Pd(LL)(mu-3)](2)](CF(3)SO(3))(4), LL = dppm or dppp, L = PPh(3), and 3 = N,N'-bis(pyridin-3-yl)-pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide, and [[Pd(LL)(mu-4)](2)](CF(3)SO(3))(4), LL = dppm, dppp, or bu(2)bipy, L = PPh(3), and 4 = N,N'-bis(pyridin-4-yl)-pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide, are suggested to exist as U-shaped or square dimers, respectively. The ligands N,N'-bis(pyridin-3-yl)isophthalamide, 5, or N,N'-bis(pyridin-4-yl)isophthalamide, 6, give the complexes [[Pd(LL)(mu-5)](2)](CF(3)SO(3))(4) or [[Pd(LL)(mu-6)](2)](CF(3)SO(3))(4), but when LL = dppm or dppp, the zigzag polymers [[Pd(LL)(mu-6)](x)](CF(3)SO(3))(2)(x) are formed. When LL = dppp, a structure determination shows formation of a laminated sheet structure by hydrogen bonding between amide NH groups and triflate anions of the type NH-OSO-HN.