Approaches to wired terpyridine: Bithienyl alkynyl derivatives of 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine and their ruthenium(II) complexes

Two approaches to the formation of ruthenium(II) complexes containing ligands with conjugated 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (tpy), alkynyl and bithienyl units have been investigated. Bromination of 4′-(2,2′-bithien-5′-yl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine leads to 4′-(5-bromo-2,2’-bithien-5′-yl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (1), the single crystal structure of which has been determined. The complexes [Ru(1)₂][PF₆]₂ and [Ru(tpy)(1)][PF₆]₂ have been prepared and characterized. Sonogashira coupling of the bromo-substituent with (TIPS)CCH did not prove to be an efficient method of preparing the corresponding complexes with pendant alkynyl units. The reaction of 4′-ethynyl-2,2′:6’,2″-terpyridine with 5-bromo-2,2′-bithiophene under Sonogashira conditions yielded ligand 2, and the heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complex [Ru(2)(tpy)][PF₆]₂ has been prepared and characterized.