A new chemically amplified electrochemical system for the detection of biological affinity reactions: direct and competitive biotin assay

Quantitation of biological affinity reactions by a newly developed chemically amplified electrochemical detection method was demonstrated with the biotin-avidin binding pair. In the method, ruthenium tris(2,2'-bipyridine)(Ru-bipy) was used as an electrochemical signal-generating tag. Its oxidation current on an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode was amplified with a sacrificial electron donor, oxalate. Because oxalate itself produced negligible current on the electrode, the signal-to-background ratio was greatly enhanced in comparison with other chemical amplification systems. Although the Ru-bipy/oxalate redox couple has been employed previously in electrochemiluminescent and photoelectrochemical detection, its use in a catalytic amperometric detection of biological binding assays has not been reported. To implement the method in the detection of biotin-avidin recognition, avidin was immobilized on an ITO electrode, and was reacted with biotin in solution. Immobilization of avidin by passive adsorption was found to be relatively stable under the condition of the affinity reaction. In the direct assay, biotin labelled with Ru-bipy was recognized by avidin and accumulated on the electrode surface, which was then detected electrochemically in the presence of oxalate. A linear relationship between electrochemical current and biotin concentration was obtained in the range of 1-300 ng mL(-1). In the competitive assay, a mixed solution of unlabelled biotin (the analyte) of various concentrations and 100 ng mL(-1) labelled biotin was reacted with avidin on the surface. As the concentration of the unlabelled biotin increased, less labelled biotin bound to avidin, leading to a reduction in the electro-catalytical response of Ru-bipy. A detection limit of 1 ng mL(-1) biotin was obtained in the competitive assay, which is close to the sensitivity of some enzyme-labelled amperometric assays.     

Enhanced electrochemical activity of redox-labels in multi-layered protein films on indium tin oxide nanoparticle-based electrode

Facile electrical communication between redox-active labeling molecules and electrode is essential in the electrochemical detection of bio-affinity reactions. In this report, nanometer-sized indium tin oxide (ITO) particles were employed in the fabrication of porous thick film electrodes to enhance the otherwise impeded electrochemical activity of redox labels in multi-layered protein films, and to enable quantitative detection of avidin/biotin binding interaction. To carry out the affinity reaction, avidin immobilized on an ITO electrode was reacted with mouse IgG labeled with both biotin and ruthenium Tris-(2,2′-bipyridine) (Ru-bipy). The binding reaction between avidin and biotin was detected by the catalytic voltammetry of Ru-bipy in an oxalate-containing electrolyte. On sputtered ITO thin film electrode, although a single layer of Ru-bipy labeled avidin exhibited substantial anodic current, attaching the label to the outer IgG layer of the avidin/biotin-IgG binding pair resulted in almost complete loss of the signal. However, electrochemical current was recovered on ITO film electrodes prepared from nanometer-sized particles. The surface of the nanoparticle structured electrode was found by scanning electron microscopy to be very porous, and had twice as much surface binding capacity for avidin as the sputtered electrode. The results were rationalized by the assumption of different packing density of avidin inner layer on the two surfaces, and consequently different electron transfer distance between the electrode and Ru-bipy on the IgG outer layer. A linear relationship between electrochemical current and IgG concentration was obtained in the range of 40-4000 nmol L⁻¹ on the nanoparticle-based electrode. The approach can be employed in the electrochemical detection of immunoassays using non-enzymatic redox labels.     

Initial studies of an immobilised, regenerable chemiluminescent sensor

The first reported use of a regenerable chemiluminescent polymer for chemical analysis is described. Ruthenium tris(4-methyl-4′-vinyl-2,2′-bipyridine) was electropolymerised onto the surface of a Pt electrode. This system was optimised for detection of oxalate by investigating the effect of both scan rate and the pH of the analyte solution. A chemically modified electrode successfully completed over 200 regeneration cycles over a 6-month period, demonstrating the stability of the system. A range of other species has also been tested for activity with the chemiluminescent polymer. The system functions in a similar way to traditional homogeneous chemiluminescent methods, but the active compound is retained and re-used rather than discarded. This results in both environmental and cost savings.     

Effect of oxidant type on the chemiluminescence intensity from the reaction of tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(III) with various organic acids

An investigation into the chemiluminescence of fourteen organic acids and tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) was undertaken. Particular emphasis was placed upon the method of production of the reagent, tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(III), with cerium(IV) sulfate, potassium permanganate, lead dioxide and electrochemical generation. Analytically useful chemiluminescence was observed when Ce(IV) or potassium permanganate were employed as oxidants. The kinetics of analyte oxidation was related to the intensity of the chemiluminescence emission, which increased by three orders of magnitude for tartaric acid after 40 h of oxidation.     

Synthesis of a new C60-substituted tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) complex

A new tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) complex substituted with two fullerene subunits has been prepared starting from a fullerene carboxylic acid derivative and a 2,2′-bipyridine ligand bearing two alcohol functions.     

Synthesis and characterization of electrochemiluminescent ruthenium(II) complexes containing o-phenanthroline and various alpha-diimine ligands

A series of o-phenanthroline-substituted ruthenium(II) complexes containing 2,2′-dipyridyl, 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole, 2-(2-pyridyl)-N-methylbenzimidazole, 4-carboxymethyl-4′-methyl-2,2′-dipyridyl, and/or 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-dipyridyl ligands were synthesized and examined as potent electrochemiluminescent (ECL) materials. The characteristics of these complexes, regarding their electrochemical redox potentials and relative ECL intensities for tripropylamine were studied. As found in a 2,2′-bipyridyl-substituted ruthenium(II) complexes, a good correlation between the observed ECL intensity and the donor ability of α-diimine ligands was observed, i.e., the ECL intensity of the Ru(II) complex decreased with an increase in the ligand donor ability. The ECL efficiency increased as the number of substitutions of o-phenanthroline (o-phen) to metal complexes increased.     

Solid-state electrochemiluminescence sensor based on the Nafion/poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) composite film

An effective electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor based on Nafion/poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS) composite film-modified ITO electrode was developed. The Nafion/PSS/Ru composite film was characterized by atomic force microscopy, UV-vis absorbance spectroscopy and electrochemical experiments. The Nafion/PSS composite film could effectively immobilize tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺) via ion-exchange and electrostatic interaction. The ECL behavior of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ immobilized in Nafion/PSS composite film was investigated using tripropylamine (TPA) as an analyte. The detection limit (S/N = 3) for TPA at the Nafion/PSS/Ru composite-modified electrode was estimated to be 3.0 nM, which is 3 orders of magnitude lower than that obtained at the Nafion/Ru modified electrode. The Nafion/PSS/Ru composite film-modified indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode also exhibited good ECL stability. In addition, this kind of immobilization approach was simple, effective, and timesaving.     

A DNA biosensor based on the electrocatalytic oxidation of amine by a threading intercalator

An electrochemical biosensor for the detection of DNA based a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) capture probe (CP) modified indium tin oxide electrode (ITO) is described in this report. After hybridization, a threading intercalator, N,N′-bis[(3-propyl)-imidazole]-1,4,5,8-naphthalene diimide (PIND) imidazole complexed with Ru(bpy)₂Cl (PIND-Ru, bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine), was introduced to the biosensor. PIND-Ru selectively intercalated to double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA) and became immobilized on the biosensor surface. Voltammetric tests showed highly stable and reversible electrochemical oxidation/reduction processes and the peak currents can directly be utilized for DNA quantification. When the tests were conducted in an amine-containing medium, Tris-HCl buffer for example, a remarkable improvement in the voltammetric response and noticeable enhancements of voltammetric and amperometric sensitivities were observed due to the electrocatalytic activity of the [Ru(bpy)₂Cl] redox moieties. Electrocatalytic current was observed when as little as 3.0 attomoles of DNA was present in the sample solution.     

Photoluminescent and electrochemiluminescent dual-signaling probe for bio-thiols based on a ruthenium(II) complex

Photoluminescence (PL) and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection techniques are highly sensitive and widely used methods for clinical diagnostics and analytical biotechnology. In this work, a unique ruthenium(II) complex, [Ru(bpy)₂(DNBSO-bpy)](PF₆)₂ (bpy: 2,2′-bipyridine; DNBSO-bpy: 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonate of 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,2′-bipyridine), has been designed and synthesized as a highly sensitive and selective PL and ECL dual-signaling probe for the recognition and detection of bio-thiols in aqueous media. As a thiol-responsive probe, the complex can specifically and rapidly react with bio-thiols in aqueous solutions to yield a bipyridine-Ru(II) complex derivative, [Ru(bpy)₂(HP-bpy)]²⁺ (HP-bpy: 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,2′-bipyridine), accompanied by the remarkable PL and ECL enhancements. The complex was used as a probe for the PL and ECL detections of cysteine (Cys) and glutathione (GSH) in aqueous solutions. The dose-dependent PL and ECL enhancements showed good linear relationships against the Cys/GSH concentrations with the detection limits at nano-molar concentration level. Moreover, the complex-loaded HeLa cells were prepared for PL imaging of the endogenous intracellular thiols. The results demonstrated the practical utility of the complex as a cell-membrane permeable probe for PL imaging detection of bio-thiols in living cells.     

Solid state spectroelectrochemistry of microparticles of ruthenium diimine complexes immobilised on optically transparent electrodes

The solid state electrochemistry and solid state spectroelectrochemistry of two ruthenium complexes, ruthenium tris-(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) bis-hexafluorophosphate, [Ru(dpp)₃](PF₆)₂, and ruthenium bis-(2,2′-bipyridine)(4,6-diphenyl-2,2′-bipyridine)bis-hexafluorophosphate, [Ru(bpy)₂(dpb)](PF₆)₂, is described. Microparticles of the material are immobilised on ITO electrodes, and stable voltammetric signals are obtained in contact with aqueous electrolyte solution. Spectral changes monitored during a slow cyclic voltammetric scan confirm the exhaustive oxidation of the Ru²⁺ species to the Ru³⁺ form. The derivative of the absorbance signal monitored at a single wavelength during potential cycling is morphologically identical to a cyclic voltammogram with no background current. This technique is shown to be useful when peaks of small magnitude are obscured by capacitive background or when peaks close to the solvent limit are obscured by solvent electrolysis current. The technique effectively widens the electrochemical window available for voltammetric measurements. After suitable correction of the signal, the value of the voltammetric peak height (I _p) as well as peak potential (E _p) may be obtained from the derivative absorbance signal. Chronospectrometry is demonstrated to provide the equivalent to a chronocoulometric response, but is closer to the ideal simulated response. A facile method for simulating time or potential-dependant spectroelectrochemical responses using commercial electrochemical simulation software is described. Absorbance transients monitored during the electrolysis of solid particles of [Ru(dpp)₃](PF₆)₂ show best agreement with simulated data at very short and very long timescales. This observation, in conjunction with the observations from the potential scan experiments, suggests that the absorbance, charge, or current vs. time behaviour of the system can be adequately described by a semi-infinite diffusional model at short experimental timescales and by a finite diffusional model at sufficiently long timescales. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Dedicated to the 80th birthday of Keith B. Oldham.     

Determination of sodium oxalate in Bayer liquor using flow-analysis incorporating an anion exchange column and tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) chemiluminescence detection

Semi-automated flow injection instrumentation, incorporating a small anion exchange column coupled with tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bipy)₃²⁺) chemiluminescence detection, was configured and utilised to develop rapid methodology for the determination of sodium oxalate in Bayer liquors. The elimination of both negative and positive interferences from aluminium(III) and, as yet, unknown concomitant organic species, respectively are discussed. The robustness of the methodology was considerably enhanced by using the temporally stable form of the chemiluminescence reagent, tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(III) perchlorate in dry acetonitrile. Real Bayer process samples were analysed and the results obtained compared well with those performed using standard methods within industrial laboratories.     

A signal-on electrogenerated chemiluminescent biosensor for lead ion based on DNAzyme

A highly reproducible and sensitive signal-on electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor based on the DNAzyme for the determination of lead ion was developed. The ECL biosensor was fabricated by covalently coupling 5′-amino-DNAzyme-tagged with ruthenium bis (2,2′-bipyridine) (2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid)-ethylenediamine (Ru1-17E′) onto the surface of graphite electrode modified with 4-aminobenzoic acid, and then a DNA substrate with a ribonucleotide adenosine hybridized with Ru1-17E′ on the electrode. Upon binding of Pb²⁺ to the Ru1-17E′ to form a complex which catalyzed the cleavage of the DNA substrate, the double-stranded DNA was dissociated and thus led to a high ECL signal. The signal linearly increases with the concentration of Pb²⁺ in the range from 5.0 to 80 pM with a detection limit of 1.4 pM and a relative standard derivation of 2.3%. This work demonstrates that using DNAzyme tagged with ruthenium complex as an ECL probe and covalently coupling method for the fabrication of the ECL biosensor with high sensitivity, good stability and significant regeneration ability is promising approach.     

Oligothiophene-2-yl-vinyl bridged mono- and binuclear ruthenium(II) tris-bipyridine complexes: Synthesis, photophysics, electrochemistry and electrogenerated chemiluminescence

A series of mono- and binuclear ruthenium(II) tris-bipyridine complexes tethered to oligothienylenevinylenes have been synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and TOF-MS spectrometry. Photophysics, electrochemistry and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) properties of these complexes are investigated. The electronic absorption spectra of the mononuclear ruthenium complexes show a significant red shift both at MLCT (metal-to-ligand charge transfer) and π-π^∗ transitions of oligothienylenevinylenes with increase in the number of thiophenyl-2-yl-vinyl unit. For the binuclear complexes these two absorption bands are overlapped. All the metal complexes have very weak emission compared to that of the reference complex Ru(bpy)²⁺₃. The first reduction potentials of all mononuclear ruthenium complexes are less negative than that of Ru(bpy)²⁺₃, due to the moderate electron-withdrawing effect of oligothienylenevinylenes. For binuclear ruthenium complexes, only one Ru(II/III) oxidation peak (E_1/2 = 0.96 V vs. Ag/Ag⁺) was observed, suggesting a weak interaction between two metal centers. Three successive reduction processes of bipyridine ligands are similar among all ruthenium complexes except for RuTRu, which has a very sharp peak owing to the accumulation of neutral product on the electrode surface. All these ruthenium complexes exhibited different ECL property in CH₃CN solution without any additional reductant or oxidant. For three mononuclear ruthenium complexes, the ECL intensity strengthens with increase in the number of thiophene-2-yl-vinyl unit. However, the ECL efficiency dramatically decreased in the binuclear ruthenium complexes. The ECL efficiencies of all the reported complexes do not exceed that of Ru(bpy)²⁺₃, where the ECL efficiency decreases in the order of RuTRu > Ru3T > Ru2T > RuT > Ru2TRu (RuT,bis-2,2′-bipyridyl-(4-methyl-4′-(2-thienylethenyl)-2,2′-bipyridine) ruthenium dihexafluorophosphate; Ru2T, bis-2,2′-bipyridyl-(4-methyl-4′-{(E)-2-[5-((E)-2-thienylethenyl)-thienylethenyl]}-2,2′-bipyridine) ruthenium dihexafluorophosphate; Ru3T, bis-2,2′-bipyridyl-(4-methyl-4′-{(E)-2-{(E)-2-[5-((E)-2-thienylethenyl)-thienylethenyl]}}-2,2′-bipyridine) ruthenium dihexafluorophosphate; RuTRu, bis-2,2′-bipyridyl-ruthenium-bis-[2-((E)-4′-methyl-2, 2′-bipyridinyl-4)-ethenyl]-thienyl-bis-2,2′-bipyridyl-ruthenium tetrahexafluorophosphate; Ru2TRu, bis-2,2′-bipyridyl-ruthenium-(E)-1,2-bis-{2-[2-((E)-4′-methyl-2,2′-bipyridinyl-4)-ethenyl]-thienyl}-ethenyl-bis-2,2′-bipyridyl-ruthenium tetrahexafluorophosphate).     

Structural organization of a {ruthenium[tris(bipyridyl)]} complex by strong π–π stacking of a tethered 1,8-naphthalimide synthon: Impact on electrochemical and spectral properties

The new ligand N-(5-methyl-2,2′-bipyridyl)-1,8-naphthalimide has been prepared by the reaction of 1,8-naphthalimide, 5-(bromomethyl)-2,2′-bipyridine and potassium carbonate in refluxing acetone. Reaction of this ligand and bis(bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) dichloride in refluxing ethanol followed by anion exchange with ammonium hexafluorophosphate produces {ruthenium[bis(bipyridyl)][N-(5-methyl-2,2′-bipyridyl)-1,8-naphthalimide]}(PF₆)₂ (1). In both the solid state (X-ray analysis) and in solution (shown by PGSE-NMR analysis), the 1,8-naphthalimide synthon organizes the cationic metal units into dimers with a strong, directionally oriented (head to tail) π–π stacking interaction. UV–VIS, fluorescence spectroscopy and electrochemical studies indicate that even with the strong interactions of the 1,8-naphthalimide groups, it does not have a significant influence on the properties of the [Ru(bipy)₃]²⁺ core.     

Synthesis and characterizations of 3,3′-bis(diphenylphosphinoamine)-2,2′-bipyridine and 3,3′-bis(diphenylphosphinite)-2,2′-bipyridine and their chalcogenides

New bis(phosphinoamine) and bis(phosphinite) derivatives of 2,2′-bipyridine were prepared through a single step reaction of 3,3′-diamino-2,2′-bipyridine or 3,3′-dihydroxy-2,2′-bipyridine with diphenylchlorophosphine, respectively. Their P = E chalcogenides (E = O, S, Se) were also prepared. All the new compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopies. The molecular structure of 3,3′-bis(diphenylthiophosphinite)-2,2′-bipyridine was elucidated by single-crystal X-ray crystallography.     

Ring opening reactions of pyromellitic dianhydride for the synthesis of first row transition metal dicarboxylate complexes

The ring opening reaction of pyromellitic dianhydride by methanol is an effective method to prepare first row transition metal dicarboxylate complexes. The reactions of different first row transition metal salts with pyromellitic dianhydride in the presence of nitrogen donating bidentate ligands such as 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2′-bipyridine gives different compositions depending on the ligand and the metal salts used. For example, the reaction of nickel(II) acetate with pyromellitic dianhydride in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline results in the formation of a carboxylato bridged nickel(II) metallacycle through the ring opening reaction of pyromellitic dianhydride (PAH) at the 1 and 3-positions, whereas a mononuclear tetra-aqua 2,2′-bipyridine nickel(II) complex is formed in a similar reaction of nickel(II) acetate through ring opening at the 1,4-position of PAH. Mononuclear cobalt(II) dicarboxylate complexes are formed from the ring opening reaction of pyromellitic dianhydride in methanol in the presence of the nitrogen donor ligands 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2′-bipyridine. Copper(II) chloride on reaction with PAH and 2,2′-bipyridine gives a mononuclear complex via ring opening at the 1 and 4-positions; having chlorides inside and outside the coordination sphere. Whereas, the reaction of copper(II)acetate gives dinuclear copper complexes having a monodentate carboxylato bridge arising from the carboxylato groups at the 1 and 4-positions on the aromatic ring. The crystal structures of all the complexes have been determined.     

Photochemical and pharmacological aspects of nitric oxide release from some nitrosyl ruthenium complexes entrapped in sol–gel and silicone matrices

The entrapped [Ru(terpy)(L)NO](PF₆)₃, where terpy = 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine and L = 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) and 3,4-diiminebenzoic acid (NH · NHq) complexes into sol–gel processed polysiloxane and silicone matrices, shows NO release characteristics when submitted to light irradiation at 355 and 532 nm, as judged by NO measurement using a NO-sensor electrode. The pharmacological properties of doped matrix showed vasodilator characteristics by visible light irradiation, which is of great interest because the target delivery system can avoid the occurrence of side effects possibly by the aquo ruthenium species. All matrices obtained showed to be amorphous materials. The scanning electron micrographs of the matrices showed irregularly shaped particles, with a broad size of 1000 μm for both matrices and homogeneous distribution.     

A trinuclear bis(dioximate)(chloro)(nitrosyl)ruthenium(II) complex containing two (2,2′-bipyridine)copper(II) groups

A trinuclear bis(cyclohexanedioximate)(chloro)(nitrosyl)ruthenium(II) complex containing two (2,2-bipyridine)-copper(II) groups has been synthesized and its electronic and electrochemical properties investigated. According to ZINDO/S calculations, the electronic structure of the ruthenium(dioximate)(nitrosyl) moiety is strongly delocalized. The electrochemical behavior has been interpreted with the aid of spectroelectrochemical measurements. In the trinuclear complex, it has been shown that the copper(II) ions can promote the oxidation of the NO species generated electrochemically, and also mediate the redox reactions of the complex, under a dioxygen atmosphere.     

Diels-Alder reaction using a dendritic copper(II) triflate-catalyst: a positive dendritic effect on the chemical yield

A series of dendritic ligands with a 2,2′-bipyridine core was synthesized through the coupling of 4,4′-dihydroxy-2,2′-bipyridine with poly(arylether) dendron in fair yields. The corresponding copper(II) trifluoromethanesulfonate (triflate) dendrimers were applied as a Lewis acid catalyst to the Diels-Alder reaction. A positive dendritic effect on the chemical yields of adducts was observed.     

The effect of zinc(II) on the formation of 2,2′- and 2,3′-bipyridine complexes of [Ru2II(ttha)]2−(ttha6−=triethylenetetraminehexaacetate)

Ru2II(ttha)(H2O)2]2– (ttha6–= triethylene tetramine hexa-acetate), prepared by the reduction of the ruthenium(III) precursor, reacts with 2,2-bipyridine (2,2-bpy) in a multi-step fashion. The first 2,2-bpy equivalent (1:1) adds with bidentate chelation at one ruthenium(II) site as revealed by separate ruthenium(II)/(III) waves at 0.03 and 0.54V vs. n.h.e. A second equivalent of 2,2-bpy (1:2) is initially stored and retained as the [Zn(2,2-bpy)]2+ complex. Further addition of 2,2-bpy initiates coordination at the second ruthenium(II) site. [Ru2(ttha)-(2,2-bpy)(H2O)]2– forms a strong ion-pair with zinc(II) that is in rapid equilibrium with the Zn(H2O)62+/Zn(2,2-bpy)]2+ pool. The solubility of the ion-pair is low. The ion-pair exhibits a shifted ruthenium(II)/(III) wave at 0.60V. Higher amounts of 2,2-bpy recomplex the zinc(II), solubilizing the complex and returning the E1/2 value to 0.54V. Other ligands which either have a higher affinity for ruthenium(II) centres than for zinc(II) as bidentate donors (1,10-phenanthroline), or ligands that cannot form bidentate zinc(II) complexes [(2-methylpyrazine, 4,4-bipyridine (4,4-bpy), and 2,3-bipyridine (2,3-bpy)] do not exhibit the unusual competition by zinc(II). These ligands all add statistically to the ruthenium(II) centres forming 1:2 complexes with 1:2 stoichiometries. 1H-n.m.r. studies of the Ru(II)polyaminopolycarboxylate complexes [RuII(hedta)(H2O)]– complex, and [Ru2(ttha)(H2O)2]2– itself, reveal that substitution of 2,3-bpy at ruthenium(II) sites occurs with an initial kinetic split between the pyridyl rings of the 3- less-hindered and 2-more-hindered ring. A slower rearrangement occurs, producing the isomer of the more-hindered 2-substituted ring. A process is driven by forming a more -accepting system when ruthenium(II) binds to the 2-ring of 2,3-bpy. Understanding the unusual influence of zinc(II) on the substitution of 2,2-bpy with [Ru2(ttha)(H2O)2]2– clarifies the nature of the 1:1 complex – namely that the 2,2-bpy becomes bidentate at one ruthenium(II) centre rather than serving as a trans-bridging ligand between both ruthenium(II) centres within one [Ru2(ttha)]2– unit.