Chemistry of Ruthenium Polypyridine Complexes: VI. Synthesis and Photochemistry of cis-[Ru(bpy)2(bipy)X]q Complexes

Complexes cis-Ru(bpy)₂(bipy)(X)] ^{n +} bpy = 2,2'-bipyridyl, bipy = 4,4'-bipyridyl, X = Br^-, ONO^-, CN^- (n = 1); MeCN, PPh₃ (n = 2), and NO⁺ (n = 3)] were synthesized. Irradiation of acetonitrile solutions of the complexes with X = Cl^-, Br^-, ONO^-, NO₂-, CN^-, NH₃, MeCN, and PPh₃ by visible light results in photosubstitution of 4,4'-bipyridyl by a solvent molecule. The electronic absorption spectra of the complexes were assigned on the basis of quantum-chemical calculations. A correlation was revealed between photolysis quantum yields and charges transferred from ligands X upon their coordination.