Electroluminescence in ruthenium(II) complexes

We have investigated the electrochemical, spectroscopic, and electroluminescent properties of a family of diimine complexes of Ru featuring various aliphatic side chains as well as a more extended pi-conjugated system. The performance of solid-state electroluminescent devices fabricated from these complexes using indium tin oxide (ITO) and gold contacts appears to be dominated by ionic space charge effects. Their electroluminescence efficiency was limited by the photoluminescence efficiency of the Ru films and not by charge injection from the contacts. The incorporation of di-tert-butyl side chains on the dipyridyl ligand was found to be the most beneficial substitution in terms of reducing self-quenching of luminescence.     

Dithiocarboxylate complexes of ruthenium(II) and osmium(II)

The ruthenium(II) complexes [Ru(R)(κ(2)-S(2)C·IPr)(CO)(PPh(3))(2)](+) (R = CH=CHBu(t), CH=CHC(6)H(4)Me-4, C(C≡CPh)=CHPh) are formed on reaction of IPr·CS(2) with [Ru(R)Cl(CO)(BTD)(PPh(3))(2)] (BTD = 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole) or [Ru(C(C≡CPh)=CHPh)Cl(CO)(PPh(3))(2)] in the presence of ammonium hexafluorophosphate. Similarly, the complexes [Ru(CH=CHC(6)H(4)Me-4)(κ(2)-S(2)C·ICy)(CO)(PPh(3))(2)](+) and [Ru(C(C≡CPh)=CHPh)(κ(2)-S(2)C·ICy)(CO)(PPh(3))(2)](+) are formed in the same manner when ICy·CS(2) is employed. The ligand IMes·CS(2) reacts with [Ru(R)Cl(CO)(BTD)(PPh(3))(2)] to form the compounds [Ru(R)(κ(2)-S(2)C·IMes)(CO)(PPh(3))(2)](+) (R = CH=CHBu(t), CH=CHC(6)H(4)Me-4, C(C≡CPh)=CHPh). Two osmium analogues, [Os(CH=CHC(6)H(4)Me-4)(κ(2)-S(2)C·IMes)(CO)(PPh(3))(2)](+) and [Os(C(C≡CPh)=CHPh)(κ(2)-S(2)C·IMes)(CO)(PPh(3))(2)](+) were also prepared. When the more bulky diisopropylphenyl derivative IDip·CS(2) is used, an unusual product, [Ru(κ(2)-SC(H)S(CH=CHC(6)H(4)Me-4)·IDip)Cl(CO)(PPh(3))(2)](+), with a migrated vinyl group, is obtained. Over extended reaction times, [Ru(CH=CHC(6)H(4)Me-4)Cl(BTD)(CO)(PPh(3))(2)] also reacts with IMes·CS(2) and NH(4)PF(6) to yield the analogous product [Ru{κ(2)-SC(H)S(CH=CHC(6)H(4)Me-4)·IMes}Cl(CO)(PPh(3))(2)](+)via the intermediate [Ru(CH=CHC(6)H(4)Me-4)(κ(2)-S(2)C·IMes)(CO)(PPh(3))(2)](+). Structural studies are reported for [Ru(CH=CHC(6)H(4)Me-4)(κ(2)-S(2)C·IPr)(CO)(PPh(3))(2)]PF(6) and [Ru(C(C≡CPh)=CHPh)(κ(2)-S(2)C·ICy)(CO)(PPh(3))(2)]PF(6).     

Hypochlorite-oxyfunctionalization of saturated hydrocarbons catalysed by ruthenium(II) complexes

Hydroxylation or ketonization of alkanes is achieved using lithium or sodium hypochlorite in the presence of catalytic amounts of ruthenium(II) complexes in a biphasic dichloromethane—water system, at room temperature. The oxidation of cyclooctane is first order both in substrate and in catalyst: a kinetic isotope effect (k_H/k_D) = 5.6 was measured using cyclohexane-d₁₂. A discussion is included concerning the origin of the different regioselectivities.     

Efficient enantiorecognition of ruthenium(II) complexes by silica-bound teicoplanin

A series of chiral tris-diimine ruthenium(II) complexes have been resolved by HPLC on a chiral stationary phase. The stationary phase (CSP1) was prepared by covalent attachment of the glycopeptide antibiotic teicoplanin to isocyanate activated silica gel. CSP1 selectively retains the enantiomers of [Ru(L)₃]²⁺ (L=2,2′-bypyridine (bpy), 1,10-phenanthroline and 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline), with a preference for the Δ isomer. For the mixed-ligand complexes [Ru(bpy)₂pztr]⁺ and [Ru(bpy)₂pytr]⁺ (Hpztr=3-(pyrazin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole, Hpytr=3-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole), where the triazole unit is bound to the metal centre either through the N² or the N⁴ nitrogen of the ring, CSP1 discriminates both the enantiomers and the regioisomers. Diastereo- and enantioselective association was also observed between CSP1 and the stereoisomers of the dinuclear complex ((Ru(bpy)₂)₂bpt]³⁺ (Hbpt=3,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole), with differences in binding affinities of 1.4 kJ/mol between the homochiral enantiomers.     

Redox-switchable conjugated bimetallic ruthenium(II) complexes

The conjugated bimetallic ruthenium(II) complex composed of 1,4-phenylenediamine as a bridging ligand was synthesized by photo-irradiation to show redox-switching of the emission properties of the terminal Ru(II) units depending on the redox state of the π-conjugated bridging spacer.     

Antibacterial properties of ruthenium(II) benzamide complexes

Reactions of the new acyclic ligand DNBH with RuCl₃ · 3H₂O, followed by addition of a secondary ligand L (L = PPh₃, 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2-bipyridine, pyridine and 2,4-diaminotoluene), yield six binuclear metal complexes, TR1–TR6. Two different methods were employed: template and a two-step synthesis, both yielding the same complexes. DNBH and its metal complexes were characterised by a combination of spectroscopic, elemental and magnetic susceptibility data. Coordination was found to be through the carbonyl oxygen of amide and phenolic oxygen in the octahedral environment of the metal. DNBH and some of the metal complexes display antibacterial properties.     

Direct Aminophosphonylation of aldehydes catalyzed by cyclopentadienyl ruthenium(II) complexes

This work reports a novel method for the direct aminophosphonylation of aldehydes catalyzed by cyclopentadienyl ruthenium(II) complexes. The system HP(O)(OEt)₂/[CpRu(PPh₃)₂Cl] was very efficient for the aminophosphonylation of aldehydes with primary and secondary amines, producing the corresponding α-aminophosphonates in good to excellent yields. This novel method has several advantages including the use of a small amount of catalyst (0.5?mol%), high chemoselectivity, solvent-free conditions and application of the catalyst [CpRu(PPh₃)₂Cl] for at least 12 cycles with excellent activity.     

Some benzimidazole amide complexes of ruthenium(II)

The synthesis and characterisation of ruthenium(II) complexes with 2-amidobenzimidazoles are reported. The complexes RuCl₂(DMSO)₄ and RuCl₂(PPh₃) react with 2-(acetamido)benzimidazole (AB) and 2-(benzamido)benzimidazole (BB) it acetone to give products of the type [Ru(L)₂(N−O)₂]Cl₂ [L=DMSO, PPh₃, N−O=AB, BB). The displacement reactions are faster in the case of methyl (AB) than phenyl (BB) substituted ligands. The ligands are bifunctional chelating agents coordinating through the tertiary nitrogen of benzimidazole ring and amide oxygen. The complexes are characterised based on their elemental analysis, conductivity data, infrared,¹H and³¹P nmr spectra. Acis-geometry is proposed for all the complexes reported.     

Angular overlap parameters for ruthenium(II) complexes

Approximate Angular Overlap Model e_π parameters have been obtained for a number of ligands L by comparison of the t_2g(Ru) → π^*(bpy) transition energies in [Ru(bpy)₂L₂] complexes. The filled t_2g subshell of Ru(II) limits the effects of otherwise strongly π-donating ligands.     

Radiation synthesis of iron(II) and ruthenium(II) alkylnitroso complexes

The radiolysis of deoxygenated aqueous solutions of Ru(NH₃)₅NO³⁺ and Fe(CN)₅NO²⁻ in the presence of organic compounds (RH) generates alkylnitroso complexes of the form Ru(NH₃)₅N(O)R²⁺ and Fe(CN)₅N(O)R³⁻ where RH = tert-butyl alcohol, tert-butyl amine, N,N-dimethylacetamide, α-aminoisobutyric acid, pivalic acid, and α-hydroxyisobutyric acid. The products form from the rapid combination of the β-carbon radical derived from the reaction of the organic compound with OH radicals (OH + RH → R· + H₂O) and the one-electron reduced metal complex formed by interaction with e_aq⁻: Ru(NH₃)₅NO³⁺ + e_aq⁻ → Ru(NH₃)₅NO²⁺; Fe(CN)₅NO²⁻ + e_aq⁻ → Fe(CN)₅NO³⁻. The alkylnitroso complexes are moderately O₂-insensitive but display varying degrees of thermal stability. Stability permitting, these complexes have been characterized by ion-exchange chromatography and UV-vis-IR spectroscopy. The green ruthenium complexes exhibit λ_max 740 and 342 nm (ϵ 22 and 4.5 × 10³ M⁻¹ cm⁻¹, respectively) and ν_NO in the 1365–1405 cm⁻¹ region. The less stable red iron analogues absorb at 475 and ∼ 250 nm (ϵ 5.0 × 10³ and ∼ 9 × 10³ M⁻¹ cm⁻¹, respectively).     

Molecular wiring of LiMnPO4 (olivine) by ruthenium(II)-bipyridine complexes

LiMnPO₄ (olivine) was surface-modified by two different complexes: Ru-bis(4,4′-diethoxycarbonyl-2,2′-bipyridine)(4,4′-dicarboxylate-2,2′-bipyridine) and Ru-bis(4-carboxylic acid-4′-carboxylate-2,2′-bipyridine)(4,4′-dinonyl-2,2′bipyridine). These complexes have redox potentials of 4.45 and 4.25 V vs. Li/Li⁺, respectively, and are both active for molecular wiring of LiMnPO₄. The surface-confined Ru(II)/Ru(III) redox reaction propagates across the monolayer via hole-hopping, allowing a subsequent chemical delithiation of the underneath olivine towards MnPO₄. The activity of LiMnPO₄ is about half of that of LiFePO₄ (olivine) at similar experimental conditions.     

Multimetallic ruthenium(II) complexes as electrochemiluminescent labels

Two homometallic complexes containing two and three ruthenium polypyridyl units linked by amino acid lysine (Lys) and the related dipeptide (LysLys) were synthesized and their electrochemical, spectroscopic, and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) properties were investigated. The electrochemical and photophysical data indicate that the two metal complexes largely retain the electronic properties of the reference compound for the separate ruthenium moieties in the two bridged complexes, [4-carboxypropyl-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine]bis(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) complex. The ECL studies, performed in aqueous media in the presence of tri-n-propylamine as co-reactant, show that the ECL intensity increases by 30% for the dinuclear and trinuclear complexes compared to the reference. Heterogeneous ECL immunoassay studies, performed on larger dendritic complexes containing up to eight ruthenium units, demonstrate that limitations due to the slow diffusion can easily be overcome by means of nanoparticle technology. In this case, the ECL signal is proportional to the number of ruthenium units. Multimetallic systems with several ruthenium centers may, however, undergo nonspecific bonding to streptavidin-coated particles or to antibodies, thereby increasing the background ECL intensity and lowering the sensitivity of the immunoassay.     

Preparation of novel aluminohydride complexes of ruthenium(II)

Treatment of (η⁵-C₅Me₅)RuCl₂(PR₃) (1) with LiAlH₄ in diethyl ether gives the ruthenium(II) tetrahydroaluminate complexes, (η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ru(AlH₄)(PR₃) (2) (R₃ = Me₃, Et₃, ⁱPr₃, Ph₂Me, Ph₃), which can be quantitatively converted to the trihydriodurthenium(IV) complexes (η⁵-C₅Me₅)RuH₃(PR₃) (4), via protonolysis either by reaction with ethanol or by filtration through alumina. Low-temperature ¹H NMR studies suggest the fluxionality of complexes 2 in solution at ambient temperature.     

Vinyl and carbene ruthenium(II) complexes from hydridoruthenium(II) precursors

The reactions of the hydrido compounds [RuHCl(CO)(L)2][L = PiPr3 (1), PCy3 (2)] with HC(triple bond)CR (R = H, Ph, tBu) afforded by insertion of the alkyne into the Ru-H bond the corresponding vinyl complexes [RuCl(CHCHR)(CO)(L)2], 3-8, which upon protonation with HBF4 gave the cationic five-coordinated ruthenium carbenes [RuCl(CHCH2R)(CO)(L)2]BF4, 9-14. Subsequent reactions of the carbene complexes with PR3(R = Me, iPr) and CH3CN led either to deprotonation and re-generation of the vinyl compounds or to cleavage of the ruthenium-carbene bond and the formation of the six-coordinated complexes [RuCl(CO)(CH3CN)2(PiPr3)2]BF4, 17, and [RuH(CO)(CH3CN)2(PiPr3)2]X, 18a,b. The acetato derivative [RuH(2-O2CCH3)(CO)(PCy3)2], 19, also reacted with acetylene and phenylacetylene by insertion to yield the related vinyl complexes [Ru(CHCHR)(kappa2-O2CCH3)(CO)(PCy3)2], 20, 21, of which that with R = H was protonated with HBF4 to yield the corresponding cationic ruthenium carbene 22. With [RuHCl(H2)(PCy3)2], 25, as the starting material, the five-coordinated chloro(hydrido)ruthenium(II) compounds [RuHCl(PCy3)(dppf)], 26(dppf = [Fe(eta5-C5H4PPh2)2]), [RuHCl[Sb(CH2Ph)3](PCy3)2], 27, and [RuHCl(CH3CN)(PCy3)2], 30, were prepared. The reactions of 27 with HCCR (R = H, Ph) gave the hydrido(vinylidene) complexes [RuHCl(CCHR)(PCy3)2], 28 and 29, whereas treatment of 30 with HC(triple bond)CPh afforded the vinyl compound [RuCl(CHCHPh)(CH3CN)(PCy3)2], 31. The molecular structures of 11(R = tBu, L = PiPr3) and 26 were determined crystallographically.     

Facile synthesis of new polyolefinic ruthenium(0) complexes from ruthenium(II) precursors

The new ruthenium(II) complex [(C₈H₁₀)RuCl₂]_n (1) (C₈H₁₀ = 1,3,5-cyclooctatriene; n ⩾ 2) has been obtained from the reaction of RuCl₃·xH₂O with 1,3,5,7-cyclooctatetraene in refluxing ethanol. Reduction of [(C₈H₁₀)RuCl₂]_n and [(C₇H₈)RuCl₂]₂ (2) (C₇H₈ = 1,3,5-cyclooctatriene) by Na/Hg amalgam in the presence of isoprene (C₅H₈) gives the novel ruthenium(O) complexes [(η⁶-C₈H₁₀)Ru(η⁴-C₅H₈)] (3) and [(η⁶-C₇H₈)Ru(η⁴-C₅H₈)] (4). [(η⁶-C₇H₈Ru(η⁴-C₅H₈)] reacts with CO and HBF₄ to give [(η⁶-C₇H₈)Ru(η³-C₅H₉)(CO)][BF₄] (C₅H₉ = trans-1,2-dimethylallyl (5a); 1,1-dimethylallyl (5b)).     

Copper(II) and ruthenium(II)/(III) Schiff base complexes

Metal complexes of general formula [Cu(L)](ClO4)2, [Ru(L)(PPh3)2]Cl2 and [Ru(L)(PPh3)Cl]Cl2[L = 1,4-di- (o-benzylidiminophenoxy/benzylidiminophenylthio)butane] containing N2O2 or N2S2 donor atoms have been prepared and characterised by spectral, magnetic and cyclic voltammetric studies. The rhombic nature of the e.s.r. spectra of the RuIII complexes indicates an asymmetry in the electronic environment around the Ru atom. e.s.r. spectra of the CuII complexes show a typical four-line spectrum with approximate tetrahedral distortion. The observed low A values in the CuII complexes, of the order of 132–160 × 10–4cm–1, indicates a tetrahedrally distorted square planar structure.The influence of modified ligands is reflected in the metal-centered redox potentials. CuII complexes having the N2S2 chromophore, in MeCN on a glassy carbon electrode, undergo quasi-reversible reduction in the 540–680 mV range. A depression in E1/2 values for the open chain N2S2 chromophoric macrocyclic CuII complexes, compared to electronically similar cyclic tetradentate CuII analogues, is due to the increased stabilization of the CuI state by added flexibility provided through the open chain donor sites.     

Luminescence quenching of the excited tris-bipyridyl ruthenium(II) ion by copper(II)-cyclodextrin complexes

The quenching of the luminescence intensity and lifetime of the electronically excited species Ru(bipy) ₃ ²⁺ by a series of copper (II) cyclodextrin complexes is studied. It is found that conventional Stern-Volmer behaviour is not followed. A modified version of the Stern-Volmer equation, one which assumes purely static quenching, is in good agreement with experimental data. Inclusion of the Ru(bipy) ₃ ²⁺ by the metallo-cyclodextrin complex is observed to play a key role in the quenching mechanism.