Mono- and dinuclear ruthenium complexes of bridging ligands incorporating two di-2-pyridylamine motifs: Synthesis, spectroscopy and electrochemistry

Mono- and dinuclear ruthenium(II) complexes of six bridging ligands that contain a central arene (phenyl, naphthalenyl or biphenyl) core to which are attached two di-2-pyridylamine groups have been prepared. These complexes possess six-membered chelate rings. Full assignments of their ¹H NMR spectra are described which provides insight into the comformations of the ligands in these complexes. The extent of metal–metal communication in the dinuclear complexes was probed by electrochemical measurements and related to metal–metal distances.