Supercritical,Freezing and Thermal Drying Process of Resorcinol‐Formaldehyde Polymer based Nano‐carbons and their Highly Loaded PtRu Anode Electrocatalyst for DMFC

The capillary condensation is affected by micropore and nanopore of catalyst layer on fuel cell. Due to limitation of sluggish mass transport and electrocatalytic activity, to retain the pore skeleton of carbon and metal nanoparticles are very significant for enhanced utilizations of pore structure in electrochemical reaction. Besides, thickness of electrocatalyst layer is very crucial due to one of the factor affected by cell performance of direct methanol fuel cell. Highly loaded four Pt?Ru anode catalysts supported on resorcinol‐formaldehyde (RF) polymer based on meso‐porous carbons (80 wt.% Pt?Ru/carbon cryogel, 80 wt.% Pt?Ru/carbon xerogel and 80 wt.% Pt?Ru/carbon aerogel) and conventional carbon (80 wt.% Pt?Ru/Vulcan XC‐72) were prepared by colloidal method for direct methanol fuel cell. These catalysts were characterized by X‐Ray diffraction (XRD), High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR‐TEM) and X‐ray photoemission (XPS). The results of CO stripping voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and single cell test performed on DMFC show that Pt?Ru/carbon cryogel and Pt?Ru/carbon aerogel exhibits better performances in comparison to Pt?Ru/carbon xerogel and Pt?Ru/Vulcan XC‐72. It is thus considered that particle size, oxidation state of metal and electrochemical active surface area of these catalysts are important role in electrocatalytic activity in DMFC.     

Hydride Ligands Make the Difference: Density Functional Study of the Mechanism of the Murai Reaction Catalyzed by [Ru(H)(2) (H(2) )(2) (PR(3) )(2) ] (R=cyclohexyl)

The catalytic cycle for the Murai reaction at room temperature between ethylene and acetophenone catalyzed by [Ru(H)(2) (H(2) )(2) (PMe(3) )(2) ] has been studied computationally at the B3PW91 level. The active species is the ruthenium dihydride complex [Ru(H)(2) (PMe(3) )(2) ]. Coordination of the ketone group to Ru induces very easy C?H bond cleavage. Coordination of ethylene after ketone de-coordination, followed by ethylene insertion into a Ru?H bond, creates the Ru?ethyl bond. Isomerization of the complex to a Ru(IV) intermediate creates the geometry adapted to C?C bond formation. Re-coordination of the ketone before the C?C coupling lowers the energy of the corresponding TS. The highest point on the potential energy surface (PES) is the TS for the isomerization to the Ru(IV) intermediate, which prepares the catalyst geometry for the C?C coupling step. Inclusion of dispersion corrections significantly lowers the height of the overall activation barrier. The actual bond cleavage and bond forming processes are associated to low activation barriers because of the presence of hydrogen atoms around the Ru center. They act as redox buffers through formation and breaking of H?H bonds in the coordination sphere. This flexibility allows optimal repartition of the various ligands according to the change in stereoelectronic demands along the catalytic cycle.     

Synthesis of metal−organic complex arrays

The Merrifield solid-phase peptide synthesis technique has been adapted to the synthesis of homo- and heterometallic metal?organic complex arrays (MOCAs). A terpyridine-appended and Fmoc-protected L-tyrosine derivative was metalated with Pt(II), Rh(III), or Ru(II) ions in solution and sequentially coupled at the surface of functionalized polymeric resin to give a metal complex triad (Rh?Pt?Ru), tetrad (Ru?Rh?Pt?Pt), pentad (Rh?Pt?Ru?Pt?Rh), and hexad (Rh?Pt?Ru?Pt?Rh?Pt) with specific metal sequence arrangements. These were cleaved from the resin, and their character was confirmed by mass spectrometry.     

Room temperature phosphorescence from ruthenium(II) complexes bearing conjugated pyrenylethynylene subunits

We describe the synthesis, electrochemistry, and photophysical properties of several Ru(II) complexes bearing different numbers of pyrenylethynylene substituents in either the 5- or 5,5'-positions of 2,2'-bipyridine, along with the appropriate Ru(II) model complexes bearing either bromo- or ethynyltoluene functionalities. In addition, we prepared and studied the photophysical behavior of the diimine ligands 5-pyrenylethynylene-2,2'-bipyridine and 5,5'-dipyrenylethynylene-2,2'-bipyridine. Static and dynamic absorption and luminescence measurements reveal the nature of the lowest excited states in each molecule. All model Ru(II) complexes are photoluminescent at room temperature and exhibit excited-state behavior consistent with metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) characteristics. In the three Ru(II) molecules bearing multiple pyrenylethynylene substituents, there is clear evidence that the lowest excited state is triplet intraligand (3IL)-based, yielding long-lived room temperature phosphorescence in the red and near IR. This phosphorescence emanates from either 5-pyrenylethynylene-2,2'-bipyridine or 5,5'-dipyrenylethynylene-2,2'-bipyridine, depending upon the composition of the coordination compound. In the former case, the excited-state absorption difference spectra that were measured for the free ligand are easily superimposed with those obtained for the metal complexes coordinated to either one or two of these species. The latter instance is slightly complicated since coordination of the 5,5'-ligand to the Ru(II) center planarizes the diimine structure, leading to an extended conjugation on the long axis with a concomitant red shift of the singlet pi-pi absorption transitions and the observed room temperature phosphorescence. As a result, transient absorption measurements obtained using free 5,5'-dipyrenylethynylene-2,2'-bipyridine show a marked blue shift relative to its Ru(II) complex, and this extended pi-conjugation effect was confirmed by coordinating this ligand to Zn(II) at room temperature. In essence, all three pyrenylethynylene-containing Ru(II) complexes are unique in this genre of chromophores since the lowest excited state is 3IL-based at room temperature and at 77 K, and there is no compelling evidence of interacting or equilibrated excited states.     

Synthesis of Ni-Ru alloy nanoparticles and their high catalytic activity in dehydrogenation of ammonia borane

We report the synthesis and characterization of new Ni(x)Ru(1-x) (x = 0.56-0.74) alloy nanoparticles (NPs) and their catalytic activity for hydrogen release in the ammonia borane hydrolysis process. The alloy NPs were obtained by wet-chemistry method using a rapid lithium triethylborohydride reduction of Ni(2+) and Ru(3+) precursors in oleylamine. The nature of each alloy sample was fully characterized by TEM, XRD, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). We found that the as-prepared Ni-Ru alloy NPs exhibited exceptional catalytic activity for the ammonia borane hydrolysis reaction for hydrogen release. All Ni-Ru alloy NPs, and in particular the Ni(0.74)Ru(0.26) sample, outperform the activity of similar size monometallic Ni and Ru NPs, and even of Ni@Ru core-shell NPs. The hydrolysis activation energy for the Ni(0.74)Ru(0.26) alloy catalyst was measured to be approximately 37?kJ?mol(-1). This value is considerably lower than the values measured for monometallic Ni (≈70?kJ?mol(-1)) and Ru NPs (≈49?kJ?mol(-1)), and for Ni@Ru (≈44?kJ?mol(-1)), and is also lower than the values of most noble-metal-containing bimetallic NPs reported in the literature. Thus, a remarkable improvement of catalytic activity of Ru in the dehydrogenation of ammonia borane was obtained by alloying Ru with a Ni, which is a relatively cheap metal.     

Filling gaps in the series of noninnocent hetero-1,3-diene chelate ligands: ruthenium complexes of redox-active α-azocarbonyl and α-azothiocarbonyl ligands RNNC(R')E, E = O or S

The series of 4-center unsaturated chelate ligands A═B-C═D with redox activity to yield (-)A-B═C-D(-) in two steps has been complemented by two new combinations RNNC(R')E, E = O or S, R = R' = Ph. The ligands N-benzoyl-N'-phenyldiazene = L(O), and N-thiobenzoyl-N'-phenyldiazene = L(S), (obtained in situ) form structurally characterized compounds [(acac)(2)Ru(L)], 1 with L = L(O), and 3 with L = L(S), and [(bpy)(2)Ru(L)](PF(6)), 2(PF(6)) with L = L(O), and 4(PF(6)) with L = L(S) (acac(-) = 2,4-pentanedionato; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine). According to spectroscopy and the N-N distances around 1.35 ? and N-C bond lengths of about 1.33 ?, all complexes involve the monoanionic (radical) ligand form. For 1 and 3, the antiferromagnetic spin-spin coupling with electron transfer-generated Ru(III) leads to diamagnetic ground states of the neutral complexes, whereas the cations 2(+) and 4(+) are EPR-active radical ligand complexes of Ru(II). The complexes are reduced and oxidized in reversible one-electron steps. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and UV-vis-NIR spectroelectrochemistry in conjunction with time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations allowed us to assign the electronic transitions in the redox series, revealing mostly ligand-centered electron transfer: [(acac)(2)Ru(III)(L(0))](+) ? [(acac)(2)Ru(III)(L(?-))] ? [(acac)(2)Ru(III)(L(2-))](-)/[(acac)(2)Ru(II)(L(?-))](-), and [(bpy)(2)Ru(III)(L(?-))](2+)/[(bpy)(2)Ru(II)(L(0))](2+) ? [(bpy)(2)Ru(II)(L(?-))](+) ? [(bpy)(2)Ru(II)(L(2-))](0). The differences between the O and S containing compounds are rather small in comparison to the effects of the ancillary ligands, acac(-) versus bpy.     

In situ FTIR spectroscopic studies of CO adsorption on electrodes with nanometer-scale thin films of ruthenium in sulfuric acid solutions

A nanometer-scale thin film of ruthenium supported on glassy carbon (nm-Ru/GC) was prepared by electrochemical deposition under cyclic voltammetric conditions. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) was used to investigate the structure and to measure the thickness of the thin film. It has been found that the Ru thin film is composed of layered Ru crystallites that appear in a hexagonal form with dimensions of about 250 nm and thickness around 30 nm. In situ FTIR spectroscopic studies demonstrated that such a nanostructured Ru thin film exhibits abnormal infrared effects (AIREs) for CO adsorption (G.Q. Lu et al., Langmuir 16 (2000) 778). In comparison with CO adsorbed on a massive Pt electrode, the IR absorption of CO_ad on nm-Ru/GC was significantly enhanced. Moreover, the direction of CO_ad bands is inverted and the full width at half maximum of CO_ad bands is increased. It has been revealed that the enhancement factor of IR absorption of CO adsorbed on nm-Ru/GC electrodes depends strongly on the thickness of the Ru film. An asymmetrical volcano relationship between the enhancement factor and the thickness of the Ru film has been obtained. The maximum value of the enhancement factor was measured as 25.5 on a nm-Ru/GC electrode of Ru film thickness around 86 nm. The present study has contributed to exploration of the particular properties of nanostructured Ru film material and to the origin of the abnormal infrared effects.     

Comparison of Physical and Photophysical Properties of Monometallic and Bimetallic Ruthenium(II) Complexes Containing Structurally Altered Diimine Ligands

The physical and photophysical properties of a series of monometallic, [Ru(bpy)(2)(dmb)](2+), [Ru(bpy)(2)(BPY)](2+), [Ru(bpy)(Obpy)](2+) and [Ru(bpy)(2)(Obpy)](2+), and bimetallic, [{Ru(bpy)(2)}(2)(BPY)](4+) and [{Ru(bpy)(2)}(2)(Obpy)](4+), complexes are examined, where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine, dmb is 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine, BPY is 1,2-bis(4-methyl-2,2'-bipyridin-4'-yl)ethane, and Obpy is 1,2-bis(2,2'-bipyridin-6-yl)ethane. The complexes display metal-to-ligand charge transfer transitions in the 450 nm region, intraligand pi --> pi transitions at energies greater than 300 nm, a reversible oxidation of the ruthenium(II) center in the 1.25-1.40 V vs SSCE region, a series of three reductions associated with each coordinated ligand commencing at -1.3 V and ending at approximately -1.9 V, and emission from a (3)MLCT state having energy maxima between 598 and 610 nm. The Ru(III)/Ru(II) oxidation of the two bimetallic complexes is a single, two one-electron process. Relative to [Ru(bpy)(2)(BPY)](2+), the Ru(III)/Ru(II) potential for [Ru(bpy)(2)(Obpy)](2+) increases from 1.24 to 1.35 V, the room temperature emission lifetime decreases from 740 to 3 ns, and the emission quantum yield decreases from 0.078 to 0.000 23. Similarly, relative to [{Ru(bpy)(2)}(2)(BPY)](4+), the Ru(III)/Ru(II) potential for [{Ru(bpy)(2)}(2)(Obpy)](4+) increases from 1.28 to 1.32 V, the room temperature emission lifetime decreases from 770 to 3 ns, and the room temperature emission quantum yield decreases from 0.079 to 0.000 26. Emission lifetimes measured in 4:1 ethanol:methanol were temperature dependent over 90-360 K. In the fluid environment, emission lifetimes display a biexponential energy dependence ranging from 100 to 241 cm(-)(1) for the first energy of activation and 2300-4300 cm(-)(1) for the second one. The smaller energy is attributed to changes in the local matrix of the chromophores and the larger energy of activation to population of a higher energy dd state. Explanations for the variations in physical properties are based on molecular mechanics calculations which reveal that the Ru-N bond distance increases from 2.05 ? (from Ru(II) to bpy and BPY) to 2.08 ? (from Ru(II) to Obpy) and that the metal-to-metal distance increases from approximately 7.5 ? for [{Ru(bpy)(2)}(2)(Obpy)](4+) to approximately 14 ? for [{Ru(bpy)(2)}(2)(BPY)](4+).     

Surface control of oxidation by an adsorbed Ru(IV)-oxo complex.

When adsorbed to optically transparent, thin films of TiO(2) nanoparticles on glass, the aqua complex [Ru(II)(tpy)(bpy(PO(3)H(2))(2))(OH(2))](2+) (bpy(PO(3)H(2))(2) is 2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-diphosphonic acid; tpy is 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine) is oxidized by Ce(IV)(NH(4))(2)(NO(3))(6) in 0.1 M HClO(4) to its Ru(IV)=O(2+) form as shown by UV-visible measurements and analysis of oxidative equivalents by oxidation of hydroquinone to quinone. Kinetic studies on the oxidations of cyclohexene, benzyl alcohol, phenol, and trans-stilbene by surface-bound Ru(IV)=O(2+) by UV-visible monitoring reveal direct evidence for initial 2-electron steps to give Ru(II) intermediates in all four cases. These steps are masked in solution where Ru(IV) --> Ru(II) reduction is followed by rapid reactions between Ru(II) intermediates and Ru(IV)=O(2+) to give Ru(III). Reactions between Ru(II) and Ru(IV)=O(2+) on the surface are inhibited by binding to the surface, which restricts translational mobility. Rate constants on the surface and in solution are comparable, pointing to comparable reactivities. The surface experiments give unprecedented insight into oxidation mechanism with important implications for achieving product selectivity in synthesis by limiting oxidation to two electrons.     

Charge delocalization in a cyclometalated bisruthenium complex bridged by a noninnocent 1,2,4,5-tetra(2-pyridyl)benzene ligand

Two ruthenium atoms are covalently connected to the para positions of a phenyl ring in 1,2,4,5-tetra(2-pyridyl)benzene (tpb) to form a linear Ru-tpb-Ru arrangement. This unique structure leads to appealing electronic properties for the biscyclometalated complex [(tpy)Ru(tpb)Ru(tpy)](2+), where tpy is 2,2';6',2″-terpyridine. It could be stepwise oxidized at substantially low potential (+0.12 and +0.55 V vs Ag/AgCl) and with a noticeably large comproportionation constant (1.94 × 10(7)). In addition to the routinely observed metal-to-ligand charge-transfer transitions, [(tpy)Ru(tpb)Ru(tpy)](2+) displays a separate and distinct absorption band at 805 nm with appreciable absorptivity (ε = 9000 M(-1) cm(-1)). This band is assigned to the charge transition from the Ru-tpb-Ru motif to the pyridine rings of tpb with the aide of density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations. Complex [(tpy)Ru(tpb)Ru(tpy)](2+) was precisely titrated with 1 equiv of cerium ammonium nitrate to produce [(tpy)Ru(tpb)Ru(tpy)](3+), which shows intense multiple NIR transitions. The electronic coupling parameters H(ab) of individual NIR components are determined to be 5812, 4942, 4358, and 3560 cm(-1). DFT and TDDFT calculation were performed on [(tpy)Ru(tpb)Ru(tpy)](3+) to elucidate its electronic structure and spin density population and the nature of the observed NIR transitions. Electron paramagnetic resonance studies of [(tpy)Ru(tpb)Ru(tpy)](3+) exhibit a discernible rhombic signal with the isotropic g factor of ?g? = 2.144. These results point to the strong orbital interaction of tpb with metal centers and that tpb behaves as a redox noninnocent bridging ligand in [(tpy)Ru(tpb)Ru(tpy)](2+). Complex [(tpy)Ru(tpb)Ru(tpy)](3+) is determined to be a Robin-Day class III system with full charge delocalization across the Ru-tpb-Ru motif.     

Construction and Characterization of Ru(II)Tris(bipyridine)‐Based Silica Thin Film Electrochemiluminescent Sensors

Ru(II) tris‐bipyridine based ECL sensors were produced by embedding the complex inside silica glass thin films deposited via a sol‐gel dipping procedure on K‐glass conducing substrates. Films were prepared starting from a pre‐hydrolyzed ethanolic solution of Si(OC₂H₅)₄ and Ru(bpy)₃Cl₂. Transparent, crack‐free and homogeneous reddish silica layers, having a thickness of 200±20 nm, were obtained. The films, either deposited at room temperature or thermally annealed at 100, 200 and 300 °C for 30 h, were structurally and chemically characterized. Ru(bpy)₃Cl₂ thermal stability was previously checked by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The films were investigated by X‐Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and UV‐vis spectroscopy. XPS in‐depth profiles revealed a homogeneous distribution of the ruthenium complex inside the silica thin layers. SIMS data suggested that the embedded Ru(bpy)₃Cl₂ did not react with oxygen inside the oxygen‐rich silica matrix to give Ru‐O bonds. Electrochemical and ECL characterization of the thin film electrodes were made by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and controlled potential step experiments. The ECL sensor showed a diffusive redox behavior of the Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/Ru(bpy)₃³⁺ system. Light emission produced from the reaction between oxalic acid and the electrogenerated Ru(bpy)₃³⁺ was larger and stable when thermally treated electrodes were used after a suitable hydration period. The 300 °C treated sample was the best performing sensor both in terms of low complex leakage and sensitivity. Calibration plots relative to oxalic acid were obtained both in stationary and in flowing solutions in the concentration range 2×10^?6?3×10^?4 M. A linear behavior appeared in the former case, while in the latter a slight curvature was evident as a consequence of a finite diffusion time of the analyte inside the thin film. The signal repeatability, obtained by multiple 100 μL of 10^?5 M oxalic acid injections in flowing solutions, was better than 4%. The obtained detection limit (computed as three times the standard deviation of the base‐line noise) was 10^?6 M as oxalic acid.     

Evidence of Nonelectrochemical Shift Reaction on a CO-Tolerant High-Entropy State Pt-Ru Anode Catalyst for Reliable and Efficient Residential Fuel Cell Systems

A randomly mixed monodispersed nanosized Pt-Ru catalyst, an ultimate catalyst for CO oxidation reaction, was prepared by the rapid quenching method. The mechanism of CO oxidation reaction on the Pt-Ru anode catalyst was elucidated by investigating the relation between the rate of CO oxidation reaction and the current density. The rate of CO oxidation reaction increased with an increase in unoccupied sites kinetically formed by hydrogen oxidation reaction, and the rate was independent of anode potential. Results of extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy showed the combination of N(Pt-Ru)/(N(Pt-Ru) + N(Pt-Pt)) ? M(Ru)/(M(Pt) + M(Ru)) and N(Ru-Pt)/(N(Ru-Pt) + N(Ru-Ru)) ? M(Pt)/(M(Ru) + M(Pt)), where N(Pt-Ru)(N(Ru-Pt)), N(Pt-Pt)(N(Ru-Ru)), M(Pt), and M(Ru) are the coordination numbers from Pt(Ru) to Ru(Pt) and Pt (Ru) to Pt (Ru) and the molar ratios of Pt and Ru, respectively. This indicates that Pt and Ru were mixed with a completely random distribution. A high-entropy state of dispersion of Pt and Ru could be maintained by rapid quenching from a high temperature. It is concluded that a nonelectrochemical shift reaction on a randomly mixed Pt-Ru catalyst is important to enhance the efficiency of residential fuel cell systems under operation conditions.     

Molecular conductance switch-on of single ruthenium complex molecules

Thiol-tethered Ru(II) terpyridine complexes were synthesized for a voltage-driven molecular switch and used to understand the switch-on mechanism of the molecular switches of single metal complexes in the solid-state molecular junction in a vacuum. Molecularly resolved scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images revealed well-defined single Ru(II) complexes isolated in the highly ordered dielectric monolayer. When a negative sample-bias was applied, the threshold voltage to the high conductance state in the molecular junctions of the Ru(II) complex was consistent with the electronic energy gap between the Fermi level of the gold substrate and the lowest ligand-centered redox state of the metal complex molecule. As an active redox center leading to conductance switching in the molecule, the lowest ligand-centered redox state of Ru(II) complexes was suggested to trap an electron injected from the gold substrate. Our suggestions for a single-molecule switch-on mechanism in the solid state can provide guidance in a design that improves the charge-trapping efficiency of the ligands with different metal substrates.     

Hierarchical interactions and their influence upon the adsorption of organic molecules on a graphene film

The competition between intermolecular interactions and lateral variations in the molecule-substrate interactions has been studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), comparing the phase formation of (sub)monolayers of the organic molecule 2,4'-BTP on buckled graphene/Ru(0001) and Ag(111) oriented thin films on Ru(0001). On the Ag films, the molecules form a densely packed 2D structure, while on graphene/Ru(0001), only the areas between the maxima are populated. The findings are rationalized by a high corrugation in the adsorption potential for 2,4'-BTP molecules on graphene/Ru(0001). These findings are supported by temperature programmed desorption (TPD) experiments and theoretical results.     

Preparation and characterization of ultrathin [Ru(CO)3Cl2]2 and [BMIM][Tf2N] films on Al2O3/NiAl(110) under UHV conditions

Towards a better understanding of the interface chemistry of ionic liquid (IL) thin film catalytic systems we have applied a rigorous surface science model approach. For the first time, a model homogeneous catalyst has been prepared under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. The catalyst, di-μ-chlorobis(chlorotricarbonylruthenium) [Ru(CO)(3)Cl(2)](2), and the solvent, the IL 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [BMIM][Tf(2)N], have been deposited by physical vapor deposition onto an alumina model support [Al(2)O(3)/NiAl(110)]. First, the interaction between thin films of [Ru(CO)(3)Cl(2)](2) and the support is investigated. Then, the ruthenium complex is co-deposited with the IL and the influence of the solvent on the catalyst is discussed. D(2)O, which is a model reactant, is further added. Growth, surface interactions, and mutual interactions in the thin films are studied with IRAS in combination with density functional (DFT) calculations. At 105 K, molecular adsorption of [Ru(CO)(3)Cl(2)](2) is observed on Al(2)O(3)/NiAl(110). The IRAS spectra of the binary [Ru(CO)(3)Cl(2)](2) + [BMIM][Tf(2)N] and ternary [Ru(CO)(3)Cl(2)](2) + [BMIM][Tf(2)N] + D(2)O show every characteristic band of the individual components. Above 223 K, partial decomposition of the ruthenium complex leads to species of molecular nature attributed to Ru(CO) and Ru(CO)(2) surface species. Formation of metallic ruthenium clusters occurs above 300 K and the model catalyst decomposes further at higher temperatures. Neither the presence of the IL nor of D(2)O prevents this partial decomposition of [Ru(CO)(3)Cl(2)](2) on alumina.     

Characterization of low energy charge transfer transitions in (terpyridine)(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) complexes and their cyanide-bridged bi- and tri-metallic analogues

The lowest energy metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorption bands found in ambient solutions of a series of [Ru(tpy)(bpy)X](m+) complexes (tpy = 2,2':3',2'-terpyridine; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; and X = a monodentate ancillary ligand) feature one or two partly resolved weak absorptions (bands I and/or II) on the low energy side of their absorption envelopes. Similar features are found for the related cyanide-bridged bi- and trimetallic complexes. However, the weak absorption band I of [(bpy)(2)Ru{CNRu(tpy)(bpy)}(2)](4+) is missing in its [(bpy)(2)Ru{NCRu(tpy)(bpy)}(2)](4+) linkage isomer demonstrating that this feature arises from a Ru(II)/tpy MLCT absorption. The energies of the MLCT band I components of the [Ru(tpy)(bpy)X](m+) complexes are proportional to the differences between the potentials for the first oxidation and the first reduction waves of the complexes. Time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) computational modeling indicates that these band I components correspond to the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) to lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) transition, with the HOMO being largely ruthenium-centered and the LUMO largely tpy-centered. The most intense contribution to a lowest energy MLCT absorption envelope (band III) of these complexes corresponds to the convolution of several orbitally different components, and its absorption maximum has an energy that is about 5000 cm(-1) higher than that of band I. The multimetallic complexes that contain Ru(II) centers linked by cyanide have mixed valence excited states in which more than 10% of electronic density is delocalized between the nearest neighbor ruthenium centers, and the corresponding stabilization energy contributions in the excited states are indistinguishable from those of the corresponding ground states. Single crystal X-ray structures and computational modeling indicate that the Ru-(C≡N)-Ru linkage is quite flexible and that there is not an appreciable variation in electronic structure or energy among the conformational isomers.     

Hydrogenation and Transfer Hydrogenation Promoted by Tethered Ru−S Complexes: From Cooperative Dihydrogen Activation to Hydride Abstraction/Proton Release from Dihydrogen Surrogates

Hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenation of imines with cyclohexa‐1,4‐dienes, as well as with a representative Hantzsch ester dihydrogen surrogate, are reported. Both processes are catalyzed by tethered Ru?S complexes but differ in the activation mode of the dihydrogen source: cooperative activation of the H?H bond at the Ru?S bond leads to the corresponding Ru?H complex and protonation of the sulfur atom, whereas the same cationic Ru?S catalyst abstracts a hydride from a donor‐substituted cyclohexa‐1,4‐diene to form the neutral Ru?H complex and a low‐energy Wheland intermediate. A sequence of proton and hydride transfers on the imine substrate then yields an amine. The reaction pathways are analyzed computationally, and the established mechanistic pictures are in agreement with the experimental observations.     

Sensitization and stabilization of TiO(2) photoanodes with electropolymerized overlayer films of ruthenium and zinc polypyridyl complexes: a stable aqueous photoelectrochemical cell

Overlayer thin films of vinylbipyridine (vbpy)-containing Ru and Zn complexes have been formed on top of ruthenium dye complexes adsorbed to TiO(2) by reductive electropolymerization. The goal was to create an efficient, water-stable photoelectrode or electrodes. An adsorbed-[Ru(vbpy)(2)(dcb)](PF(6))(2)/poly-[Ru(vbpy)(3)](PF(6))(2) surface composite displays excellent stability toward dissolution in water, but the added overlayer film greatly decreases incident photon-to-current conversion efficiencies (IPCE) in propylene carbonate with I(3)(-)/I(-) as the carrier couple. An ads-[Ru(vbpy)(2)(dcb)](PF(6))(2)/poly-[Zn(vbpy)(3)](PF(6))(2) composite displays no loss in IPCE compared to ads-[Ru(vbpy)(2)(dcb)](PF(6))(2) but is susceptible to film breakdown in the presence of water by solvolysis and loss of the cross-linking Zn(2+) ions. Success was attained with an ads-[Ru(vbpy)(2)(dcb)](PF(6))(2)/poly-[Ru(vbpy)(2)(dppe)](PF(6))(2) composite. In this case the electropolymerized layer is transparent in the visible. The composite electrode is stable in water, the IPCE in propylene carbonate with I(3)(-)/I(-) is comparable to the adsorbed complex, and a significant IPCE is observed in water with the quinone/hydroquinone carrier couple. The assembly [(bpy)(2)(CN)Ru(CN)Ru(vbpy)(2)(NC)Ru(CN)(bpy)(2)](PF(6))(2) ([Ru(CN)Ru(NC)Ru](PF(6))(2)) adsorbs spontaneously on TiO(2), and electropolymerization of thin layers of the assembly to give ads-[Ru(CN)Ru(NC)Ru](PF(6))(2)/poly-[Ru(CN)Ru(NC)Ru](PF(6))(2) enhances IPCE and has no deleterious effect on the IPCE/Ru.     

Frontier electronic structures of Ru(tcterpy)(NCS)3 and Ru(dcbpy)2(NCS)2: a photoelectron spectroscopy study

The frontier electronic structures of Ru(tcterpy)(NCS)3 [black dye (BD)] and Ru(dcbpy)2(NCS)(2) (N719) have been investigated by photoelectron spectroscopy (PES), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and resonant photoelectron spectroscopy (RPES). N1s XAS has been used to probe the nitrogen contribution in the unoccupied density of states, and PES, together with RPES over the N1s edge, has been used to delineate the character of the occupied density of states. The experimental findings of the frontier electron structure are compared to calculations of the partial density of states for the nitrogens in the different ligands (NCS and terpyridine/bipyridine) and for Ru4d. The result indicates large similarities between the two complexes. Specifically, the valence level spectra show two well separated structures at low binding energy. The experimental results indicate that the outermost structure in the valence region largely has a Ru4d character but with a substantial character also from the NCS ligand. Interestingly, the second lowest structure also has a significant Ru4d character mixed into the structure otherwise dominated by NCS. Comparing the two complexes the BD valence structures lowest in binding energy contains a large contribution from the NCS ligands but almost no contribution from the terpyridine ligands, while for N719 also some contribution from the bipyridine ligands is mixed into the energy levels.     

Far-red luminescent ruthenium pyridylimine complexes; building blocks for multinuclear arrays

Ruthenium(II) pyridylimine complexes are explored for their potential as units that might be incorporated into electronic or photonic arrays. The complexes [Ru(bipy)2(L)][PF6]2 (1) and [Ru(tpy)(L)Cl][BF4] (2) with L = phenylpyridin-2-ylmethylene-amine are synthesized and fully characterised using X-ray diffraction analysis and (2D) NMR spectroscopy. 1 displays emission in the far-red area of the spectrum at room temperature. The emission is significantly shifted to longer wavelength with respect to [Ru(bpy)3]2+ indicating that the lowest MLCT state is localised on the pyridylimine ligand. 2 is non-emissive at room temperature and at 77 K.