Coordination chemistry of a terpyridine-tris(pyrazolyl) ditopic ligand

A new ditopic ligand, 4'-(4-(2,2,2-tris(1H-pyrazol-1-ido)ethoxymethyl)phenyl)-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (pzt), has been prepared and its coordination chemistry studied. Metal ions with a preference for octahedral geometry form ML(2) complexes that are readily isolated and characterised, with the metal ion being bound to the terpyridine sites of both ligands. Other metal ions bind to the terpyridine site of just one ligand. In the case of silver(i), a dinuclear M(2)L(2) complex has been isolated in which each silver ion is coordinated to the terpyridine site of one ligand and to a single pyrazolyl donor group from the second ligand. Evidence for binding of metal ions to the tris(pyrazolyl) binding site was obtained by electrospray mass spectrometry and NMR techniques. The free ligand and three metal complexes, including the disilver complex, have been characterised by X-ray crystallographic techniques.     

Convenient and efficient synthesis of functionalized oligopyridine ligands bearing accessory pyrromethene-BF2 fluorophores

The synthesis of stable and highly luminescent pyridine-, bipyridine-, phenanthroline-, bipyrimidine-, and terpyridine-based ligands bearing one or two 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (bodipy) modules has demonstrated the advantages of three different protocols which have been adapted in light of the chemical stability of the alkyne-grafted starting building blocks and the chemical reactivity of the bromo-substituted starting materials. A classical method of condensation of aldehydes or acid chlorides with Kryptopyrrole has been used for direct linkage of a bodipy to the oligopyridinic platform. For the phenylethynyl-linked molecules, direct coupling between the bodipy-phenyliodo and the stable 4'-ethynyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine, 6,6' '-diethynyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine, 5-ethynyl-2,2'-bipyridine, 5,5'-diethynyl-2,2'-bipyridine, 6,6'-diethynyl-2,2'-bipyridine, and 5,5'-diethynyl-2,2'-bipyrimidine substrates is feasible and is promoted by Pd catalysts and sonication. This procedure provides the advantages of efficiency, versatility, and rapidity. A second set of experimental conditions is required to produce the 4-substituted pyridine, 3,8-disubstituted-1,10-phenanthroline, and 5,5' '-disubstituted-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine derivatives. Cross coupling of a bodipy-phenylethynyl molecule with the bromo-substituted partners takes place smoothly with the pyridine but with low yields in the other cases due to the efficient formation of the homocoupled diphenylbutadiyne bodipy compounds. A third convenient protocol enabled the preparation of these target molecules in a one-pot reaction where the deprotection of the alkyne was conducted in situ by a phase-transfer process with aqueous NaOH and with Et(3)BnN(+)Cl(-) as mediator and the cross-coupling reaction realized in the benzene phase with [Pd(PPh(3))(4)] as catalyst and CuI as co-reagent. The nascent acid was quenched in the aqueous phase. This method is much more efficient when a trimethylsilyl protecting group is used instead of a propargylic alcohol. The pyridino-bodipy bases were alkylated smoothly in good yields in the presence of methyl iodide. The photophysical and electrochemical properties for these new molecules have been investigated and are discussed in terms of substitution patterns of the bipyridine and terpyridine platforms. In the pyridinium salt 18, the fluorescence from the first singlet excited state at lambda(em) = 547 nm is totally quenched at the expense of a low-lying charge-transfer emitting state located at lambda(em) = 660 nm.     

Synthesis, characterization and electrochemistry of 4'-functionalized 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine ruthenium(II) complexes and their biological activity

The synthesis and characterization of Ru(II) terpyridine complexes derived from 4'-functionalized 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine ligands by a multi step procedure have been described. The complexes are redox-active, showing both metal-centred (oxidation) and ligand-centred (reduction) processes. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of the synthesized ruthenium(II) complexes [Ru(attpy)2](PF6)2 (attpy = 4'-(4-acryloyloxymethylphenyl)-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine); [Ru(mttpy)2](PF6)2 (mttpy = 4'-(4-methacryloyloxymethylphenyl)-2,2':6',2'- terpyridine); [Ru(mttpy)(MeOPhttpy)](PF6)2 (MeOPhttpy = 4'-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine); and [Ru(mttpy)(ttpy)](PF6)2 (ttpy = 4'-(4-methylphenyl)-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) were tested against four human pathogens (Proteus vulgaris, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) and five plant pathogens (Curvularia lunata, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium udum, Macrophomina phaseolina and Rhizoctonia solani) by the well diffusion method and MIC values of the complexes are reported. A biological study of the complexes indicated that the complexes [Ru(mttpy)2](PF6)2 and [Ru(mttpy)(MeOPhttpy)](PF6)2 exhibit very good activity against most of the test pathogens and their activity is better than those of some of the commercially available antibiotics like tetracycline and the fungicide carbendazim.     

Tuning the gas phase redox properties of copper(II) ternary complexes of terpyridines to control the formation of nucleobase radical cations

Electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) of ternary copper(II) complexes of [Cu(terpyX)(M)]2+ (where terpyX = is a substituted 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine ligand; M = the nucleobases: adenine, guanine, thymine and cytosine) was examined as a means of forming radical cations of nucleobases in the gas phase. The following substituents were examined: 4'-NMe2-2,2':6',6'-terpyridine; 4'-OH-2,2':6',6'-terpyridine; 4'-F-2,2':6',6'-terpyridine; 2,2':6',6'-terpyridine; 4'-Cl-2,2':6',6'-terpyridine; 4'-Br-2,2':6',6'-terpyridine; 4'-CO2H-2,2':6',6'-terpyridine; 4'-NO2-2,2':6',6'-terpyridine and 6,6'-dibromo-2',2:6',2'-terpyridine. Each of the ternary complexes [Cu(terpyX)(M)]2+ was mass selected and subjected to collision induced dissociation (CID) in a quadrupole ion trap. The types of fragmentation reactions observed for these complexes depend on the nature of the substituent on the terpyridine ligand, while the yields of the radical cations of the nucleobases follow the order of their ionization energies (IEs): G (lowest IE) > A > C > T (highest IE). In general, radical cation formation is favoured for electron withdrawing substituents (e.g. NO2) while loss of the neutral nucleobase is favoured for electron donating substituents (e.g. NMe2). Loss of the protonated nucleobase is a major fragmentation pathway for the OH substituted terpyridine system, consistent with its ability to bind to a metal centre as a deprotonated ligand. Crystal structure determinations of (6,6'-dibromo-2',2:6',2'-terpyridine)bis(nitrato)copper(II) and diaqua(4'-oxo-2,2':6',6'-terpyridine)copper(II) nitrate monohydrate were performed and correlated with the ESI results.     

Electron donor-acceptor dyads based on ruthenium(II) bipyridine and terpyridine complexes bound to naphthalenediimide

Two series of photosensitizer-electron acceptor complexes have been synthesized and fully characterized: ruthenium(II) tris(bipyridine) ([Ru(II)(bpy)(2)(bpy-X-NDI)], where X = -CH(2)-, tolylene, or phenylene, bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine, and NDI is naphthalenediimide) and ruthenium(II) bis(terpyridine) ([Ru(II)(Y-tpy)(tpy-X-NDI)], where Y = H or tolyl and X = tolylene or phenylene, and tpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine). The complexes have been studied by cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry and by steady state and time-resolved absorption and emission techniques. Rates for forward and backward electron transfer have been investigated, following photoexcitation of the ruthenium(II) polypyridine moiety. The terpyridine complexes were only marginally affected by the linked diimide unit, and no electron transfer was observed. In the bipyridine complexes we achieved efficient charge separation. For the complexes containing a phenyl link between the ruthenium(II) and diimide moieties, our results suggest a biphasic forward electron-transfer reaction, in which 20% of the charge-separated state was formed via population of the naphthalenediimide triplet state.     

Unusual frequency dispersion effects of the nonlinear optical response in highly conjugated (polypyridyl)metal-(porphinato)zinc(II) chromophores

The syntheses and electrooptic properties of a new family of nonlinear optical chromophores are reported. These species feature an ethyne-elaborated, highly polarizable porphyrinic component and metal polypyridyl complexes that serve as integral donor and acceptor elements. Examples of this structural motif include ruthenium(II) [5-(4'-ethynyl-(2,2';6',2' '-terpyridinyl))-10,20-bis(2',6'-bis(3,3-dimethyl-1-butyloxy)phenyl)porphinato]zinc(II)-(2,2';6',2' '-terpyridine)(2+) bis-hexafluorophosphate (Ru-PZn); osmium(II) [5-(4'-ethynyl-(2,2';6',2'-terpyridinyl))-10,20-bis(2',6'-bis(3,3-dimethyl-1-butyloxy)phenyl)porphinato]zinc(II)-(2,2';6',2'-terpyridine)(2+) bis-hexafluorophosphate (Os-PZn); ruthenium(II) [5-(4'-ethynyl-(2,2';6',2'-terpyridinyl))-15-(4'-nitrophenyl)ethynyl-10,20-bis(2',6'-bis(3,3-dimethyl-1-butyloxy)phen-yl)porphinato]zinc(II)-(2,2';6',2' '-terpyridine)(2+) bis-hexafluorophosphate (Ru-PZn-A); osmium(II) [5-(4'-ethynyl-(2,2';6',2' '-terpyridinyl))-15-(4'-nitrophenyl)ethynyl-10,20-bis(2',6'-bis(3,3-dimethyl-1-butyloxy)phenyl)porphinato]zinc(II)-(2,2';6',2' '-terpyridine)(2+) bis-hexafluorophosphate (Os-PZn-A); and ruthenium(II) [5-(4'-ethynyl-(2,2';6',2' '-terpyridinyl))osmium(II)-15-(4'-ethynyl-(2,2';6',2'-terpyridinyl))-10,20-bis (2',6'-bis(3,3-dimethyl-1-butyloxy)phenyl)porphinato]zinc(II)-bis(2,2';6',2'-terpyridine)(4+) tetrakis-hexafluorophosphate (Ru-PZn-Os). The frequency dependence of the dynamic hyperpolarizability of these compounds was determined from hyperRayleigh light scattering (HRS) measurements carried out at fundamental incident irradiation wavelengths (lambda(inc)) of 800, 1064, and 1300 nm. These data show that (i) coupled oscillator photophysics and metal-mediated cross-coupling can be exploited to elaborate high beta(0) supermolecules that exhibit significant excited-state electronic communication between their respective pigment building blocks; (ii) high-stability metal polypyridyl compounds constitute an attractive alternative to electron releasing dialkyl- and diarylamino groups, the most commonly used donor moieties in a wide range of established nonlinear optical dyes; (iii) this design strategy enables ready elaboration of chromophores having extraordinarily large dynamic hyperpolarizabilities (beta(lambda) values) at telecommunication relevant wavelengths; and (iv) porphyrin B- and Q-state-derived static hyperpolarizabilities (beta(0) values) can be designed to have the same or opposite sign in these species, thus providing a new means to regulate the magnitude of lambda(inc)-specific dynamic hyperpolarizabilities.     

Synthesis and redox behavior of biferrocenyl-functionalized ruthenium(II) terpyridine gold clusters

Spectroscopic and electrochemical characterizations of ferrocene- and biferrocene-functionalized terpyridine octanethiolate monolayer-protected clusters were investigated and reported. The electrochemical measurements of Ru2+ coordinated with 4'-ferrocenyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine and 4'-biferrocenyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine complexes were dominated by the Ru2+/Ru3+ redox couple (E(1/2) at approximately 1.3 V), Fe(2+)/Fe(3+) redox couples (E(1/2) from approximately 0.6 to approximately 0.9 V), and terpy/terpy-/terpy2- redox couples (E(1/)(2) at ca. -1.2 and ca. -1.4 V). The substantial appreciable variations detected in the Ru2+/Ru3+ and Fe2+/Fe3+ oxidation potentials indicate that there is an interaction between the Ru2+ and Fe2+ metal centers. The coordination of the Ru2+ metal center with 4'-ferrocenyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine and 4'-biferrocenyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine leads to an intense 1[(d(pi)Fe)6] --> 1[d(pi)Fe)5(pi*terpyRu)1] transition in the visible region. The 1[(d(pi)Fe)6] -->1[d(pi)Fe)5(pi*terpyRu)1] transition observed at approximately 510 nm revealed that there was a qualitative electronic coupling between metal centers. The coordination of the Ru2+ transition metal center lowers the energy of the pi*terpy orbitals, causing this transition.     

Highly conjugated (polypyridyl)metal-(porphinato)zinc(II) compounds: long-lived, high oscillator strength, excited-state absorbers having exceptional spectral coverage of the near-infrared

Transient dynamical studies of ruthenium(II) [5-(4'-ethynyl-(2,2';6',2' '-terpyridinyl))-10,20-bis(2',6'-bis(3,3-dimethyl-1-butyloxy)phenyl)porphinato]zinc(II)-(2,2';6',2' '-terpyridine)2+ bis-hexafluorophosphate (Ru-PZn), osmium(II) [5-(4'-ethynyl-(2,2';6',2' '-terpyridinyl))-10,20-bis(2',6'-bis(3,3-dimethyl-1-butyloxy)phenyl)porphinato]zinc(II)-(2,2';6',2' '-terpyridine)2+ bis-hexafluorophosphate (Os-PZn), ruthenium(II) [5-(4'-ethynyl-(2,2';6',2' '-terpyridinyl))-15-(4'-nitrophenyl)ethynyl-10,20-bis(2',6'-bis(3,3-dimethyl-1-butyloxy)phenyl)porphinato]zinc(II)-(2,2';6',2' '-terpyridine)2+ bis-hexafluorophosphate (Ru-PZn-A), osmium(II) [5-(4'-ethynyl-(2,2';6',2' '-terpyridinyl))-15-(4'-nitrophenyl)ethynyl-10,20-bis(2',6'-bis(3,3-dimethyl-1-butyloxy)phenyl)porphinato]zinc(II)-(2,2';6',2' '-terpyridine)2+ bis-hexafluorophosphate (Os-PZn-A), and ruthenium(II) [5-(4'-ethynyl-(2,2';6',2' '-terpyridinyl))-ruthenium(II)-15-(4'-ethynyl-(2,2';6',2' '-terpyridinyl))-10,20-bis(2',6'-bis(3,3-dimethyl-1-butyloxy)phenyl)porphinato]zinc(II)-bis(2,2';6',2' '-terpyridine)4+ tetrakis-hexafluorophosphate (Ru-PZn-Ru), and ruthenium(II) [5-(4'-ethynyl-(2,2';6',2' '-terpyridinyl))-osmium(II)-15-(4'-ethynyl-(2,2';6',2' '-terpyridinyl))-10,20-bis(2',6'-bis(3,3-dimethyl-1-butyloxy)phenyl)porphinato]zinc(II)-bis(2,2';6',2' '-terpyridine) tetrakis-hexafluorophosphate (Ru-PZn-Os) show that these highly conjugated supermolecular chromophores feature electronically excited states that absorb over broad NIR spectral windows with considerable oscillator strength and manifest lifetimes (1-50 mus) that are extraordinarily long relative to those of classic low band-gap organic materials. The excited-state absorptive domains of these strongly coupled multipigment ensembles can be extensively modulated. For sequential one-photon absorptive processes, these compounds evince large sigmae, sigmae/sigmag, and sigmae - sigmag values. As the combination of all these properties within single chromophoric entities have heretofore lacked precedent within the NIR, these and closely related structures may find particular utility in a variety of technologically important optical-limiting applications.     

Highly efficient alkene epoxidation and aziridination catalyzed by iron(II) salt + 4,4',4'-trichloro-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine/4,4'-dichloro-4'-O-PEG-OCH3-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine

"Iron(II) salt + 4,4',4'-trichloro-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine" is an effective catalyst for epoxidation and aziridination of alkenes and intramolecular amidation of sulfamate esters. The epoxidation of allylic-substituted cycloalkenes achieved excellent diastereoselectivities up to 90%. ESI-MS results supported the formation of iron-oxo and -imido intermediates. Derivitization of Cl 3terpy to O-PEG-OCH 3-Cl 2terpy renders the terpyridine unit to be recyclable, and the "iron(II) salt + 4,4'-dichloro-4'- O-PEG-OCH 3-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine" protocol can be reused without a significant loss of catalytic activity in the alkene epoxidation.     

From encapsulation to polypseudorotaxane: unusual anion networks driven by predesigned metal bis(terpyridine) complex cations

Solvothermal reactions of CuSCN, metal (Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+) sulfate, and terpyridine (2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine or 4'-p-tolyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine) in the presence of triphenylphosphine yielded a series of hybrid coordination compounds, in which in situ formed metal bis(terpyridine) complex cations are encapsulated by a 3D anionic network or entangled by 2D heartlike networks, forming encapsulation or polypseudorotaxane supramolecules. The complex cations play a role as template to direct the fabrication of the structures.     

A concept to tailor electron delocalization: applying QTAIM analysis to phenyl-terpyridine compounds

To gain a deeper understanding of how structural modifications may influence photochemical properties of 4'-phenyl-2,2':6',2'-terpyridines, the investigations presented here focus on electron delocalization in 4'-phenyl-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine derivatives and their Ru(II) and Zn(II) complexes. In those systems of neighboring aromatic rings the considerable torsion between the rings is commonly regarded to be the limiting factor for a well pronounced π-conjugation between the rings. A common approach to improve the π-conjugation is to lower the steric hindrance, thus achieving a more planar geometry. Here, we present a fundamentally different approach towards enhanced π-conjugation by manipulation of the electronic properties of the pyridine-phenyl (py-ph) bond. This is accomplished by introducing various substituents at the phenylene moiety or coordinating the terpyridine moiety to transition metal ions. The electron delocalization was quantified via the DFT-calculated ellipticity in the bond-critical point (BCP) of the py-ph bond. This ellipticity can be modified due to substituents in the para position of phenylene and via the transition metals coordinated to the terpyridine moiety. Changes in electron density distribution induced by the substituents and the metal ions are further studied by means of intermolecular electron density difference plots. It was shown that a NH(2) group in the para position of the phenyl ring as well as the coordination to Ru(II) or Zn(II) ions significantly enhances the π-character of the py-ph bond. Surprisingly, an even higher π-character of the py-ph bond is achieved by introducing additional NH(2) groups in ortho position to the py-ph bond, despite the increased torsion between pyridine and phenylene. The introduction of other substituents (-NO(2), -Br, -CN, -vinyl, -ethynyl) studied within the presented work enables an actuation of the electron delocalization between terpyridine and phenylene. In doing so, the ellipticity is a concise quantity to characterize electron delocalization in the studied systems. Furthermore, the ellipticity in the BCP of the py-ph bond is related to the corresponding geometrical properties (e.g., bond length and dihedral angle) and to the DFT-calculated HOMO and LUMO energies.     

Synthesis of achiral and racemic catenanes based on terpyridine and a directionalized terpyridine mimic, pyridyl-phenanthroline

Concatenated macrocycles containing manisyl-substituted tridentate ligands 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine and 2-pyridin-2-yl-1,10-phenanthroline (simply referred to as terpyridine and pyridyl-phenanthroline herein) have been prepared via dual cyclization procedures. The manisyl derivative (manisyl = 4-methoxy-2,6-dimethylphenyl) was chosen for its ability to improve solubility while simultaneously incorporating functionality. Deprotection of the methoxy groups provided a soluble ligand that was re-alkylated with an array of terminal alkyne and alkene linkers. The tridentate coordinating ability of these ligands enabled complexation with Ru(ii) and Fe(ii), generating achiral and racemic octahedral complexes for terpyridine and pyridyl-phenanthroline, respectively. Subsequent macrocyclization via olefin metathesis or copper-mediated alkyne coupling afforded the corresponding catenanes, and in some cases a figure-eight macrocycle. The difference in symmetry and the presence of the manisyl group allowed the distinction between the catenane and the undesired figure-eight to be made directly by (1)H NMR. Metal-free achiral and racemic catenanes were obtained by liberating Fe(ii) from the octahedral bound title ligands by treatment with hydrogen peroxide.     

Synthesis of vinyl-substituted polypyridyl ligands through Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of potassium vinyltrifluoroborate with bromopolypyridines

Suzuki-Miyauru cross-coupling of bromopolypyridines with potassium vinyltrifluoroborate affords vinyl-substituted polypyridyl ligands in moderate to good yields. This reaction allows simple and practical syntheses of numerous vinyl-substituted polypyridines, such as 4'-vinyl-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine, 5,5'-divinyl-2,2'-bipyridine, and 4,4'-divinyl-2,2'-bipyridine. In addition, a new ruthenium complex, [Ru(5,5'-divinyl-2,2'-bipyridine)(3)](2+), was synthesized and found to undergo reductive electropolymerization smoothly.     

Two-photon luminescence from polar bis-terpyridyl-stilbene derivatives of Ir(III) and Ru(II)

Four structurally related iridium(III) and ruthenium(II) complexes bearing two polar terpyridyl-stilbene derived chromophores 4-(4-{2-[4-(methoxy)phenyl]ethenyl}phenyl)-2,2'-6',2'-terpyridine (ttpyeneanisole) and 4-(4-{2-[phenyl]ethenyl}phenyl)-2,2'-6',2'-terpyridine (tpystilbene) have been synthesised and characterised in the solid state and in solution. In the solid state, the dihedral angle subtending the pyridyl and tolyl groups of 27.1° in the Ir(III) complex [Ir(ttpyeneanisole)(2)]·3PF(6) is more acute than in the Ru(II) derivative [Ru(tpystilbene)(2)]·2PF(6) (35.5°), indicating the presence of a greater degree of π-delocalisation across the terpyridine unit in the former compound. Their luminescence properties in fluid solution have been investigated following both resonant and non-resonant excitation. We have shown that each of the complexes undergoes two-photon excitation when excited in the near infrared (740 to 820 nm), with two-photon absorption cross sections in the range 11-67 × 10(-50) cm(4) s photon(-1). The larger cross sections for the Ir(III) complexes reflect the differences observed in the solid state. This work therefore demonstrates that such complexes are promising as luminescent markers for 3D imaging and illustrates that simple functionalisation of the chromophores and the choice of metal can lead to marked enhancements in the two-photon cross sections (σ(2)) compared to those of simpler heteroleptic polypyridyl based derivatives.     

New [(D-terpyridine)-Ru-(D or A-terpyridine)][4-EtPhCO2]2 complexes (D = electron donor group; A = electron acceptor group) as active second-order non linear optical chromophores

The dipolar and octupolar contributions of the second order nonlinear optical properties of [(4'-(C(6)H(4)-p-D)-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine)-Ru-(4'-(C(6)H(4)-p-A)-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine)]Y(2) heteroleptic complexes (D and A are donor and acceptor groups, respectively), and related free terpyridines and homoleptic complexes, have been obtained by means of a comprehensive combination of Electric Field Induced Second Harmonic generation, Third Harmonic Generation, and Harmonic Light Scattering measurements. These results evidence how a metal can act as a bridge between two π-delocalized terpyridine moieties bearing a D and an A group, respectively, leading to a large quadratic hyperpolarizability hugely dominated by the octupolar contribution.     

Preparations and characterizations of bichromophoric systems composed of a ruthenium polypyridine complex connected to a difluoroborazaindacene or a zinc phthalocyanine chromophore

This paper describes the synthesis of a new series of molecules composed of a ruthenium cation liganded by a chloro or a thiocyanato, a 4,4'-(diethoxycarbonyl)-2,2'-bipyridine, and a 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine substituted in its 4' position by a difluoroborazaindacene or a zinc phthalocyanine. A set of conditions are reported to conveniently synthesize these dyads by a Stille cross-coupling reaction between the trimethyltin derivative of the organic chromophore and the corresponding ruthenium complex with 4'-bromo-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine and 4,4'-(diethoxycarbonyl)-2,2'-bipyridine. The dyads were studied by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, steady-state fluorescence, and electrochemistry. The results of these studies indicate strong electronic coupling between the zinc phthalocyanine unit and the ruthenium complex but weakly electronically coupled systems in the case of dyads containing a difluoroborazaindacene unit. The new bichromophoric systems display strong absorbance in the visible spectrum. An efficient quenching of the fluorescence of the organic chromophore by the nearby ruthenium complex was also observed in all of the dyads. In dyads connected to the borazaindacene, excitation spectra indicate efficient photoinduced energy transfer from the borazaindacene to the ruthenium complex.     

Ruthenium(II) complexes with improved photophysical properties based on planar 4'-(2-pyrimidinyl)-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine ligands

A series of new tridentate polypyridine ligands, made of terpyridine chelating subunits connected to various substituted 2-pyrimidinyl groups, and their homoleptic and heteroleptic Ru(II) complexes have been prepared and characterized. The new metal complexes have general formulas [(R-pm-tpy)Ru(tpy)]2+ and [Ru(tpy-pm-R)2]2+ (tpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine; R-pm-tpy = 4'-(2-pyrimidinyl)-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine with R = H, methyl, phenyl, perfluorophenyl, chloride, and cyanide). Two of the new metal complexes have also been characterized by X-ray analysis. In all the R-pm-tpy ligands, the pyrimidinyl and terpyridyl groups are coplanar, allowing an extended delocalization of acceptor orbital of the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) excited state. The absorption spectra, redox behavior, and luminescence properties of the new Ru(II) complexes have been investigated. In particular, the photophysical properties of these species are significantly better compared to those of [Ru(tpy)2]2+ and well comparable with those of the best emitters of Ru(II) polypyridine family containing tridentate ligands. Reasons for the improved photophysical properties lie at the same time in an enhanced MLCT-MC (MC = metal centered) energy gap and in a reduced difference between the minima of the excited and ground states potential energy surfaces. The enhanced MLCT-MC energy gap leads to diminished efficiency of the thermally activated pathway for the radiationless process, whereas the similarity in ground and excited-state geometries causes reduced Franck Condon factors for the direct radiationless decay from the MLCT state to the ground state of the new complexes in comparison with [Ru(tpy)2]2+ and similar species.     

Push-pull effects and emission from ternary complexes of platinum(II), substituted terpyridines, and the strong-field cyanide ion

As part of an effort to develop new lumaphors involving late transition metal ions, this report describes the synthesis and characterization of the first platinum(II) derivatives containing 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (trpy) and cyanide as co-ligands. According to existing models, including cyanide in the coordination sphere should raise the energies and minimize the influence of short-lived d-d excited states that otherwise compromise the excited-state lifetime. Both [Pt(trpy)(CN)]+ and the 4'-cyano-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine analogue [Pt(CN-T)(CN)]+ are emissive in dichloromethane solution, but the signals are weak. Part of the problem is that the d-pi* charge-transfer excited states also rise in energy, so that the emission actually originates from a (3)pi-pi* state with a relatively low radiative rate constant. However, another member of the series, the 4'-dimethylamino-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (dma-T) derivative [Pt(dma-T)(CN)]+, proves to be a very promising platform with an emission quantum yield of phi= 0.26 and an excited-state lifetime of tau = 22 micros in room-temperature, deoxygenated dichloromethane solution. In the dma-T complex the electron-rich dimethylamino substituent provides the basis for an emissive, but largely ligand-based, charge-transfer excited state. The orbital parentage is such that the photoluminescence persists in donating solvents like dimethylformamide, which ordinarily quenches d-pi* excited states in complexes of this type.     

Sterically congested, hexameric tetrakispyridinyl-Pd(II)/Cd(II)-metallomacrocycles: self-assembly and structural characterization

Hexagonal Pd(II)- or Cd(II)-tetrakispyridinyl-based macrocycles are quantitatively self-assembled from 4'-(3-pyridinyl)-4,4'-di(tert-butyl)-2,2'?:?6',2'-terpyridine and structurally confirmed by NMR and TWIM-MS.     

Cobalt(II) complexes of terpyridine bases as photochemotherapeutic agents showing cellular uptake and photocytotoxicity in visible light

Cobalt(II) complexes of terpyridine bases [Co(L)?](ClO?)? (1-3), where L is 4'-phenyl-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (ph-tpy in 1), 4'-(9-anthracenyl)-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (an-tpy in 2) and 4'-(1- pyrenyl)-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (py-tpy in 3), are prepared and their photo-induced DNA and protein cleavage activity and photocytotoxic property in HeLa cells studied. The 1?:?2 electrolytic and three-electron paramagnetic complexes show a visible band near 550 nm in DMF-Tris-HCl buffer. The complexes 1-3 show emission spectral bands at 355, 421 and 454 nm, respectively, when excited at 287, 368 and 335 nm. The quantum yield values for 1-3 in DMF-H?O (2?:?1 v/v) are 0.025, 0.060 and 0.28, respectively. The complexes are redox active in DMF-0.1 M TBAP. The Co(III)-Co(II) and Co(II)-Co(I) couples appear as quasi-reversible cyclic voltammetric responses near 0.2 and -0.7 V vs. SCE, respectively. Complexes 2 and 3 are avid binders to calf thymus DNA giving K(b) value of ～10? M?1. The complexes show chemical nuclease activity. Complexes 2 and 3 exhibit oxidative cleavage of pUC19 DNA in UV-A and visible light. The DNA photocleavage reaction of 3 at 365 nm shows formation of singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radical species, while only hydroxyl radical formation is evidenced in visible light. Complexes 2 and 3 show non-specific photo-induced bovine serum albumin protein cleavage activity at 365 nm. The an-tpy and py-tpy complexes exhibit significant photocytotoxicity in HeLa cervical cancer cells on exposure to visible light giving IC?? values of 24.2 and 7.6 μM, respectively. Live cell imaging study shows accumulation of the complexes in the cytosol of HeLa cancer cells.