Electron transfer through clay monolayer films fabricated by the Langmuir-Blodgett technique

Hybrid films composed of amphiphilic molecules and clay particles were constructed by the modified Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method. Clays used were sodium montmorillonite (denoted as mont) and synthetic smectite containing Co(II) ions in the octahedral sites (denoted as Co). Two kinds of amphiphilic molecules were used-[Ru(dC(18)bpy)(phen)2](ClO4)2 (dC(18)bpy = 4,4'-dioctadecyl-2,2'-bipyridyl and phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) (denoted as Ru) and octadecylammonium choloride (ODAH+Cl- or denoted as ODAH). Three kinds of hybrid films (denoted as Ru-mont, Ru-Co, and ODAH-Co films) were prepared by spreading an amphiphilic molecule onto an aqueous suspension of a clay. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses of the films deposited on silicon wafers indicated that closely packed films were obtained at 20 ppm for all the above three cases. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was measured on an ITO electrode modified with a hybrid film or a monolayer film of pure Ru(II) complex salt (denoted as Ru film). The Ru(II) complexes incorporated in the Ru-mont film lost their redox activity, indicating that montmorillonite layers acted as a barrier against electron transfer. In contrast, the same complexes in the Ru-Co film were electrochemically active with the simultaneous appearance of the redox peaks due to the Co(II)/Co(III) (or Co(II)/Co(IV)) couple. The results implied that electron transfer through cobalt clay layers was possible via mediation by Co(II) ions in a clay sheet. For an aqueous solution containing nitrite ions (NO2-) at pH 3.0, a large catalytic oxidation current was observed for both the electrodes modified with the Ru-mont and Ru-Co films. The results were interpreted in terms of the mechanisms that the charge separation of an incorporated Ru(II) complex took place to produce a pair of a Ru(III) complex and an electron and that the generated Ru(III) complex was reduced by a nitrite ion before it recombined with the electron.     

Photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of GMP on an ITO electrode modified with clay/[Ru(phen)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(dC18bpy)]<Superscript>2+</Superscript> hybrid film

An indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode modified with monolayer clay/[Ru(phen)₂(dC18bpy)]²⁺ (phen=1,10-phenanthroline, dC18bpy = 4,4′-dioctadecyl-2,2′ bipyridyl) hybrid film has been fabricated by the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method. Atomic force microscopy revealed that the single-layered hybrid film of clay/[Ru(phen)₂(dC18bpy)]²⁺ (denoted as Clay-Ru) was closely packed at a surface pressure of 25 mN·m⁻¹ and had a thickness of 3.4±0.5 nm. Cyclic voltammograms showed that the redox current of Ru(II) complex decreased when incorporated into the clay film, suggesting that the clay layer acts as a barrier against electron transfer. When applied to oxidizing the mononucleotide of guanosine 5′-monophosphate (GMP), a large catalytic oxidative current was achieved on the Clay-Ru(II) modified ITO electrode at the external potential above 900 mV (vs. Ag|AgCl|KCl) and, more significantly, this response was further enhanced by light irradiation (λ>360 nm), in which the photocurrent is increased about 11 times in comparison with that of a bare ITO. Mechanism of the photoelectrocatalytic effect was proposed in terms of the reduction of the photoelectrochemically generated Ru(III) complex in the Clay-Ru film by GMP. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 20471043 and 20843007), Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation (Grant Nos. Y404118 and Y408177), the “151” Distinguished Person Foundation of Zheji-ang Province of China, Zhejiang Technology Project Foundation (Grant No. 2007C21134) and Wenzhou Technology Project Foundation (Grant No. N2004B040)     

Preparation of a novel clay/metal complex hybrid film and its catalytic oxidation to chiral 1,1-binaphthol

An ITO electrode modified with a hybrid film of chiral metal complex (Λ-[Os(phen)₃]²⁺) and a clay (montmorillonite) has been prepared for the purpose of chiral sensing. As a first step, a floating monolayer of amphiphilic Os(II) complex, [Os(phen)₂(dC18bpy)](ClO₄)₂ (phen=1,10-phenanthroline, dC18bpy=4,4^′-dioctadecyl-2,2^′-bipyridyl), was formed on an aqueous dispersion of sodium montmorillonite. The monolayer acted as an organic part for the hybridization of clay particles in an aqueous phase. The hybrid film of clay and amphiphilic metal complex was transferred onto an indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate by the vertical dipping method. The next step was to immerse the electrode in chloroform, during which the amphiphilic Os(II) complex was removed from the clay surface. Thereafter the electrode was immersed in an aqueous solution of 0.5 mM Λ-[Os(phen)₃](ClO₄)₂ and rinsed with water. Cyclic voltammetric measurements were performed at each step of the above procedures. When the observed curves were simulated on the basis of a double-layered modified electrode, the electron transfer rate constant (k₁) for Λ-[Os(phen)₃]²⁺/Λ-[Os(phen)₃]³⁺ was determined to be 0.25 s⁻¹. This Os^II/Os^III redox couple was found to mediate the electrochemical oxidation of chiral 1,1^′-2-binaphthol in a stereoselective way: i.e., the S-isomer was oxidized at a 1.4 times higher rate than the R-isomer.     

Enantioselective photooxidation of a sulfide by a chiral ruthenium(II) complex immobilized on a montmorillonite clay surface: the role of weak interactions in asymmetric induction

The present work pursued a possibility that enantioselectivity was achieved through weak intermolecular interactions between a catalyst and a substrate. For that purpose, we studied the photooxidation of alpha-ethylbenzyl phenyl sulfide catalyzed by a polypyridyl ruthenium(II) complex as a chiral photosensitizer. No covalent bonding was formed between a catalyst and a substrate, because the complexes used ([Ru(phen)(3)](2+) or [Ru(bpy(3))(2+)]) were coordinatively saturated. Enantiomer excess (ee) was attained to be 30% when a chiral photosensitizer was immobilized on montmorillonite clay. It was even improved to 43% in the presence of an additional chiral auxiliary, dibenzoyl-D(+)-tartaric acid. Notably, no enantioselectivity was achieved when the reaction took place in homogeneous solutions. The ab initio calculations were performed on the stability of an associate composed of a catalyst (metal complex) and a product (sulfoxide) to obtain a clue to reaction mechanisms. The calculations suggest that chiral discrimination is achieved even through noncovalent interactions between a substrate and a chiral sensitizer when the attacking direction by a substrate toward a catalyst is limited sterically on a solid surface.     

Orientation tuning of a polypyridyl Ru(II) complex immobilized on a clay surface toward chiral discrimination

The present work reports an attempt to elucidate a stereoselective energy-transfer system by immobilizing a chiral metal complex on a clay surface. The metal complex used was [Ru(bpy)2L(i)]2+ with L1 = bpy (2,2'-bipyridine), L2 = 4,4'-diundecyl-2,2'-bipyridine, and L3 = 5,5'-diundecyl-2,2'-bipyridine. The adsorption structure of [Ru(bpy)2L(i)]2+ was studied by means of electric dichroism measurements on an aqueous dispersion of a colloidal clay. It was found that the molecular orientation of the adsorbed Ru(II) complex was affected remarkably by the positions of the alkyl chains on the bpy ligand; that is, the angle of the 3-fold or pseudo-3-fold symmetry axis of the Ru(II) complex with respect to the surface normal was obtained to be 24 degrees, 30 degrees, and 52 degrees for i = 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The efficiency of the energy-transfer was determined by photoluminescence quenching measurements between the adsorbed Ru(II) complex and [Ru(acac)3] (acac = acetylacetonate) in solution. As a result, stereoselectivity appeared most for the case of [Ru(bpy)2L3]2+ in which its two helically twisted bpy ligands were projected in an outward direction.     

Flow injection determination of cobalt after its sorption onto polyurethane foam loaded with 2-(2-thiazolylazo)-p-cresol (TAC)

An electrochemically stable monolayer of tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) was obtained for the first time. It was based on the electrostatic attachment of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) to the benzene sulfonic acid monolayer film, which was covalently bound onto glassy carbon electrode by the electrochemical reduction of diazobenzene sulfonic acid. The surface-confined Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) underwent reversible surface process, and reacted with the coreactant, tripropylamine, to produce electrochemiluminescence. In view of the stability of the electrode, the results strongly suggested that light was emitted from the surface-confined Ru(bpy)(3)(2+), not from the detached Ru(bpy)(3)(2+). The Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) modified electrode was used to the determination of tripropylamine. It showed good linearity in the concentration range from 5 muM to 1 mM with a detection limit of 1 muM (S/N=4). The good stability of the Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) modified electrode also showed that the benzene sulfonic acid monolayer film prepared can be served as an excellent support to construct multilayers.     

Formation of Langmuir-Blodgett films of a clay and a water-soluble alkylammonium cation

We have studied the formation of ultrathin hybrid films composed of a water-soluble alkylammonium cation (trimethyloctadecylammonium caiton: TMODAH+) and clay nanosheets at an air-water interface. When a chloroform solution of the ammonium salt of TMODAH+Cl- was spread onto a surface of an aqueous clay suspension in a Langmuir trough, a stable monolayer of the water-soluble ammonium cation was formed by hybridization with the clay nanosheets at the air-water interface. Surface pressure--molecular area (pi-A) isotherm curve of the hybrid monolayer shifted to the smaller molecular area side with the increase in the concentration of the ammonium salt in the solution or with the decrease in that of the clay in the suspension. In some cases, the lift-off areas in the pi-A isotherm curves were less than the cross-sectional area of an alkyl chain (ca. 0.19 nm2). These results indicated that some ammonium cations spread onto the clay suspension were dissolved into the aqueous subphase before the hybridization with the clay nanosheets. The hybrid monolayers were transferred onto a glass plate in a layer-by-layer way by horizontal dipping to form a hybrid multilayerd film. Interestingly, the densities of TMODAH+ determined by the infrared spectral analysis were constant in the hybrid multilayers prepared from the clay suspensions at the same concentration, regardless of the concentrations of the ammonium salt solutions. XRD patterns of the films showed that the cations of TMODAH+ would lie down on the clay layer in the hybrid film.     

Electrochemical and electrogenerated chemiluminescence of clay nanoparticles/Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) multilayer films on ITO electrodes

The electrochemical and electrogenerated chemiluminescence of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) immobilized in [clay/Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)](n) multilayer films by layer-by-layer assembly were investigated. The stable multilayer films of clay and Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) were assembled by alternate adsorption of negatively charged clay platelets and positively charged Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) from their aqueous dispersions. UV-vis spectroscopy, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), cyclic voltammetry, and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) were used to monitor the immobilization of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) and the regular growth of the [clay/Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)](n) multilayer films. The multilayer films modified electrode was used for the ECL detection of tripropylamine (TPA) and oxalate. The proposed novel immobilized method exhibited good stability, reproducibility and high sensitivity for the determination of TPA and oxalate, which mainly resulted from the contributing of clay nanoparticles with appreciable surface area, special structural features and unusual intercalation properties. Detection limits were 20 and 100 nM for TPA and oxalate, respectively and the linear concentration range extended from 60 nM to 0.66 mM for TPA.     

有机钌螯合物/TiO_2杂化膜修饰电极上Pt纳米团簇的光电流增强效应

利用LB膜技术可控制备了纳米单层和多层的二氧化钛-有机钌螯合物杂化膜,并研究了上述无机-有机杂化膜修饰电极在Pt纳米团簇敏化后的光电流增强效应.实验结果表明:(1)纳米单层TiO2/[Ru(phen)2(dC18bpy)]2+(简称为TiO2-Ru)杂化膜的平均厚度为(3.6±0.5)nm;(2)在光照条件下TiO2-Ru杂化膜能有效催化还原[Pt(NH3)6]4+形成粒径位于20～160nm之间的Pt纳米团簇;(3)Pt纳米团簇的引入消除了金属钌螯合物中配体对电子传递的阻碍作用,改变了电子传递途径,从而有效减少了电子空穴对的复合,提高了Pt纳米团簇敏化的n层杂化膜修饰电极(ITO/(TiO2-Ru)n/Pt)在支持电解质中的光电流.与纳米单层TiO2-Ru杂化膜修饰的ITO电极(ITO/TiO2-Ru)相比,当工作电压为900mV时,ITO/TiO2-Ru/Pt在0.1mol·L-1的NaClO4电解质溶液中和光照(λ360nm)条件下,单位面积的光电流提高了约5倍;(4)ITO/(TiO2-Ru)n/Pt电极光电流的大小与杂化膜的层数密切相关,当TiO2-Ru杂化膜的层数从一层、二层增加到四层时,光电流呈现先升高后下降行为,这表明ITO/(TiO2-Ru)n/Pt电极的电子传递过程直接通过非电活性的二氧化钛纳米单层进行.     

Pd纳米粒子敏化的纳米单层TiO_2-Ru(Ⅱ)螯合物修饰电极对单磷酸鸟苷的电催化氧化行为

利用LB膜技术可控制备了纳米单层的二氧化钛-有机钌螯合物杂化膜,并研究了上述无机-有机杂化膜修饰电极在Pd纳米粒子敏化后对单磷酸鸟苷(GMP)的电催化氧化行为.实验结果表明:(1)纳米单层TiO2/[Ru(phen)2(dC18bpy)]2+(简称为TiO2-Ru)杂化膜的平均厚度为(3.2±0.5)nm;(2)在光照条件下TiO2-Ru杂化膜能有效催化还原[Pd(NH3)4]2+形成粒径位于20～200nm之间的Pd纳米粒子;(3)纳米单层TiO2-Ru/Pd杂化膜能高效催化氧化具有供电子能力的单磷酸鸟苷(GMP),与纳米单层TiO2-Ru杂化膜修饰的ITO电极(ITO/TiO2-Ru)相比,当工作电压为1200mV时,ITO/TiO2-Ru/Pd电极在含有1×10-3molL-1GMP的磷酸盐缓冲液中,单位面积的催化氧化电流提高了约36倍;(4)Pd纳米粒子的引入消除了金属钌螯合物中配体对电子传递的阻碍作用,改变了电子传递途径,从而有效减少了电子空穴对的复合,提高了杂化膜修饰电极(ITO/TiO2-Ru/Pd)的电子传递效率.     

Photocatalytic decomposition of an alkylammonium cation in a Langmuir-Blodgett film of a titania nanosheet

The formation of inorganic-organic hybrid films of a titania nanosheet and an amphiphilic alkylammonium cation has been investigated, and the photocatalytic decomposition of the alkylammonium cation in the film has been pursued. When a solution of the amphiphilic alkylammonium salt (octadecylammonium chloride: ODAH+ Cl-) was spread on an interface between the air and a titania nanosheet suspension, the negatively charged nanosheets were adsorbed onto the floating monolayer of ODAH+ to form a hybrid monolayer. The hybridization was confirmed by pi-A isotherm measurements, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Multilayered films were fabricated in a layer-by-layer way by transferring the hybrid monolayers onto glass plates. Areas per ODAH+ cation in the films were estimated from the infrared (IR) spectra of the films, but these areas were smaller than those estimated from the pi-A isotherm curves. The orientation of the alkyl chain of ODAH+ in the hybrid film was determined by means of polarized IR spectroscopy. The alkyl chains were tilted 41 +/- 1 degrees and 47 +/- 1 degrees from the surface normal for the films prepared from the 8 and 20 ppm (ppm = mg dm(-3)) suspensions, respectively. Together with X-ray diffraction data of the films, the structure of the hybrid film was discussed. When the films were illuminated with a UV light, the absorption intensities due to the alkyl chain of ODAH+ decreased exponentially, indicating the photocatalytic decomposition of ODAH+ by the titania nanosheets in the films. Deviation from the exponential trend in the decomposition rate was observed in the initial period for the hybrid films prepared from the suspensions at low concentrations. Interestingly, the layered structure of the hybrid film was disturbed significantly after the ODAH+ cations were decomposed.     

Sensing of molecular chirality on an electrode modified with a clay-metal complex hybrid film

A chiral sensing electrode has been prepared by coating an indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate with a hybrid film of metal complexes and a clay layer (montmorillonite). By applying the combined method of the Langmuir-Blodgett and self-assembly techniques, a monolayer of a water-soluble chiral metal complex (Lambda-[Os(phen)(3)](2+)), which acted as a mediator of oxidizing a target molecule, was fixed electrostatically onto a single-layered clay film. Chiral sensing was demonstrated by monitoring a photocurrent when the electrode was in contact with an aqueous NaClO(4) solution of 1,1'-2-binaphthol. As a result, the S-1,1'-2-binaphthol gave a photocurrent 1.8 times higher than the R-isomer at the applied potential of 700 mV (vs Ag|AgCl|KCl(sat)). Detection limit was determined to be 40 microM from the concentration dependence of a response current. Mechanisms for chiral sensing effect were explained in terms of the stereoselective binding of 1,1'-2-binaphthol with adsorbed Lambda-[Os(phen)(3)](2+) on a clay surface.     

Synthesis of heteroleptic bis(diimine)carbonylchlororuthenium(II) complexes from photodecarbonylated precursors

The reactions of bidentate diimine ligands (L2) with binuclear [Ru(L1)(CO)Cl2]2 complexes [L1 not equal to L2 = 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy), 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (4,4'-Me2bpy), 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (5,5'-Me2bpy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (4,7-Me2phen), 5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (5,6-Me2phen), di(2-pyridyl)ketone (dpk), di(2-pyridyl)amine (dpa)] result in cleavage of the dichloride bridge and the formation of cationic [Ru(L1)(L2)(CO)Cl]+ complexes. In addition to spectroscopic characterization, the structures of the [Ru(bpy)(phen)(CO)Cl]+, [Ru(4,4'-Me2bpy)(5,6-Me2phen)(CO)Cl]+ (as two polymorphs), [Ru(4,4'-Me2bpy)(4,7-Me2phen)(CO)Cl]+, [Ru(bpy)(dpa)(CO)Cl]+, [Ru(5,5'-Me2bpy)(dpa)(CO)Cl]+, [Ru(bpy)(dpk)(CO)Cl]+, and [Ru(4,4'-Me2bpy)(dpk)(CO)Cl]+ cations were confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. In each case, the structurally characterized complex had the carbonyl ligand trans to a nitrogen from the incoming diimine ligand, these complexes corresponding to the main isomers isolated from the reaction mixtures. The synthesis of [Ru(4,4'-Me2bpy)(5,6-Me2bpy)(CO)(NO3)]+ from [Ru(4,4'-Me2bpy)(5,6-Me2bpy)(CO)Cl]+ and AgNO3 demonstrates that exchange of the chloro ligand can be achieved.     

Chiral recognition of helical metal complexes by modified cyclodextrins.

Chirality of metal complexes M(phen)3(n+) (M = Ru(II), Rh(III), Fe(II), Co(II), and Zn(II), and phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) is recognized by heptakis(6-carboxymethylthio-6-deoxy)-beta-cyclodextrin heptaanion (per-CO2(-)-beta-CD) and hexakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-alpha-cyclodextrin (TMe-alpha-CD) in D2O. The binding constant (K) for the Delta-Ru(phen)3(2+) complex of per-CO2(-)-beta-CD (K = 1250 M(-1)) in 0.067 M phosphate buffer at pD 7.0 is approximately 2 times larger than that for the Lambda-isomer (590 M(-1)). Definite effects of inorganic salts on stability of the complexes indicate a large contribution of Coulomb interactions to complexation. The fact that hydrophilic Ru(bpy)3(2+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) does not form a complex with per-CO2(-)-beta-CD suggests the importance of inclusion of the guest molecule into the host cavity for forming a stable ion-association complex. The positive entropy change for complexation of Ru(phen)3(2+) with per-CO2(-)-beta-CD shows that dehydration from both the host and the guest occurs upon complexation. Similar results were obtained with trivalent Rh(phen)3(3+) cation. Pfeiffer effects were observed in complexation of racemic Fe(phen)3(2+), Co(phen)3(2+), and Zn(phen)3(2+) with per-CO2(-)-beta-CD with enriched Delta-isomers. Native cyclodextrins such as alpha-, beta-, and gamma-cyclodextrins as well as heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin do not interact with Ru(bpy)3(2+). However, hexakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-alpha-cyclodextrin (TMe-alpha-CD) interacts with Ru(phen)3(2+) and Ru(bpy)3(2+) and discriminates between the enantiomers of these metal complexes. The K values for the Delta- and Lambda-Ru(phen)3(2+) ions are 54 and 108 M(-1), respectively. Complexation of the Delta- and Lambda-isomers of Ru(phen)3(2+) with TMe-alpha-CD is accompanied by negative entropy changes, suggesting that cationic Ru(phen)3(2+) is shallowly included into the cavity of the neutral host through van der Waals interactions. The Delta-enantiomer, having a right-handed helix configuration, fits the primary OH group side of per-CO2(-)-beta-CD (SCH2CO2(-) side) well, while the Lambda-enantiomer, having a left-handed helix configuration, is preferably bound to the secondary OH group side of TMe-alpha-CD. The asymmetrically twisted shape of a host cavity seems to be the origin of chiral recognition by cyclodextrin.     

Ruthenium(II)-polyazine light absorbers bridged to reactive cis-dichlororhodium(III) centers in a bimetallic molecular architecture

Bimetallic complexes of the form [(bpy)(2)Ru(BL)RhCl(2)(phen)](PF(6))(3), where bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, and BL = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine (dpp) or 2,2'-bipyrimidine (bpm), were synthesized, characterized, and compared to the [{(bpy)(2)Ru(BL)}(2)RhCl(2)](PF(6))(5) trimetallic analogues. The new complexes were synthesized via the building block method, exploiting the known coordination chemistry of Rh(III) polyazine complexes. In contrast to [{(bpy)(2)Ru(dpp)}(2)RhCl(2)](PF(6))(5) and [{(bpy)(2)Ru(bpm)}(2)RhCl(2)](PF(6))(5), [(bpy)(2)Ru(dpp)RhCl(2)(phen)](PF(6))(3) and [(bpy)(2)Ru(bpm)RhCl(2)(phen)](PF(6))(3) have a single visible light absorber subunit coupled to the cis-Rh(III)Cl(2) moiety, an unexplored molecular architecture. The electrochemistry of [(bpy)(2)Ru(dpp)RhCl(2)(phen)](PF(6))(3) showed a reversible oxidation at 1.61 V (vs Ag/AgCl) (Ru(III/II)), quasi-reversible reductions at -0.39 V, -0.74, and -0.98 V. The first two reductive couples corresponded to two electrons, consistent with Rh reduction. The electrochemistry of [(bpy)(2)Ru(bpm)RhCl(2)(phen)](PF(6))(3) exhibited a reversible oxidation at 1.76 V (Ru(III/II)). A reversible reduction at -0.14 V (bpm(0/-)), and quasi-reversible reductions at -0.77 and -0.91 V each corresponded to a one electron process, bpm(0/-), Rh(III/II), and Rh(II/I). The dpp bridged bimetallic and trimetallic display Ru(dpi)-->dpp(pi*) metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions at 509 nm (14,700 M(-1) cm(-1)) and 518 nm (26,100 M(-1) cm(-1)), respectively. The bpm bridged bimetallic and trimetallic display Ru(dpi)-->bpm(pi*) charge transfer (CT) transitions at 581 nm (4,000 M(-1) cm(-1)) and 594 nm (9,900 M(-1) cm(-1)), respectively. The heteronuclear complexes [(bpy)(2)Ru(dpp)RhCl(2)(phen)](PF(6))(3) and [{(bpy)(2)Ru(dpp)}(2)RhCl(2)](PF(6))(5) had (3)MLCT emissions that are Ru(dpi)-->dpp(pi*) CT in nature but were red-shifted and lower intensity than [(bpy)(2)Ru(dpp)Ru(bpy)(2)](PF(6))(4). The lifetimes of the (3)MLCT state of [(bpy)(2)Ru(dpp)RhCl(2)(phen)](PF(6))(3) at room temperature (30 ns) was shorter than [(bpy)(2)Ru(dpp)Ru(bpy)(2)](PF(6))(4), consistent with favorable electron transfer to Rh(III) to generate a metal-to-metal charge-transfer ((3)MMCT) state. The reported synthetic methods provide means to a new molecular architecture coupling a single Ru light absorber to the Rh(III) center while retaining the interesting cis-Rh(III)Cl(2) moiety.     

Light-induced charge separation and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water using Ru(II)Pt(II)-based molecular devices: effects of introducing additional donor and/or acceptor sites

In our hopes to improve the photocatalytic efficiency of photo-hydrogen-evolving molecular devices, several new dyads and triads possessing a photosensitizing Ru(bpy)(phen)(2)(2+) (or Ru(phen)(3)(2+)) chromophore (abbreviated as Ru(II)) attached to both/either a phenothiazine moiety (abbreviated as Phz) and/or H(2)-evolving PtCl(2)(bpy) units (abbreviated as Pt), such as Phz-Ru(II)-Pt2 (triad), Ru(II)-Pt2 (dyad), and Ru(II)-Pt3 (dyad), were synthesized and their basic properties together with the photo-hydrogen-evolving characteristics were investigated in detail. The (3)MLCT phosphorescence from the Ru(II) moiety in these systems is substantially quenched due to the highly efficient photoinduced electron transfer (PET). Based on the electrochemical studies, the driving forces for the PET were estimated as -0.07 eV for Phz-Ru(II)-Pt2, -0.24 eV for Ru(II)-Pt2, and -0.22 eV for Ru(II)-Pt3, revealing the exergonic character of the PET in these systems. Luminescence lifetime studies revealed the existence of more than two decay components, indicative of a contribution of multiple PET processes arising from the presence of at least two different conformers in solution. The major luminescence decay components of the hybrid systems [τ(1) = 6.5 ns (Ru(II)-Pt2) and τ(1) = 1.04 ns (Phz-Ru(II)-Pt2) in acetonitrile] are much shorter than those of Phz-free/Pt-free Ru(bpy)(phen)(2)(2+) derivatives. An important finding is that the triad Phz-Ru(II)-Pt2 affords a quite long-lived charge separated (CS) state (τ(CS) = 43 ns), denoted as Phz(+)˙-Ru(Red)-Pt2, as a result of reductive quenching of the triplet excited state of Ru(bpy)(phen)(2)(2+) by the tethering Phz moiety, where Ru(Red) denotes Ru(bpy)(phen)(2)(+). Moreover, the lifetime of Phz(+)˙-Ru(Red)-Pt2 was observed to be much longer than that of Phz(+)˙-Ru(Red). The photocatalytic H(2) evolution from water driven by these systems was examined in an aqueous acetate buffer solution (pH 5.0) containing 4-19% dimethylsulfoxide (solubilising reagent) in the presence of EDTA as a sacrificial electron donor. Dyads Ru(II)-Pt2 and Ru(II)-Pt3 were found to exhibit improved photo-hydrogen-evolving activity compared to the heterodinuclear Ru-Pt dyads developed so far in our group. On the other hand, almost no catalytic activity was observed for Phz-Ru(II)-Pt2 in spite of the formation of a strongly reducing Ru(Red) site (Phz(+)˙-Ru(Red)-Pt2), indicating that the electron transfer from the photogenerated Ru(Red) unit to the PtCl(2)(bpy) unit is not favoured presumably due to the slow electron transfer rate in the Marcus inverted region.     

The synthesis and structure of heteroleptic tris(diimine)ruthenium(II) complexes

The reactions of bidentate diimine ligands (L2) with cationic bis(diimine)[Ru(L)(L1)(CO)Cl]+ complexes (L, L1, L2 are dissimilar diimine ligands), in the presence of trimethylamine-N-oxide (Me3NO) as a decarbonylation reagent, lead to the formation of heteroleptic tris(diimine) ruthenium(II) complexes, [Ru(L)(L1)(L2)]2+. Typically isolated as hexafluorophosphate or perchlorate salts, these complexes were characterised by UV-visible, infrared and mass spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, microanalyses and NMR spectroscopy. Single crystal X-ray studies have elucidated the structures of K[Ru(bpy)(phen)(4,4'-Me(2)bpy)](PF(6))(3).1/2H(2)O, [Ru(bpy)(5,6-Me(2)phen)(Hdpa)](ClO(4))(2), [Ru(bpy)(phen)(5,6-Me(2)phen)](ClO(4))(2), [Ru(bpy)(5,6'-Me(2)phen)(4,4'-Me(2)bpy)](PF(6))(2).EtOH, [Ru(4,4'-Me(2)bpy)(phen)(Hdpa)](PF(6))(2).MeOH and [Ru(bpy)(4,4'-Me(2)bpy)(Hdpa)](ClO(4))(2).1/2Hdpa (where Hdpa is di(2-pyridyl)amine). A novel feature of the first complex is the presence of a dinuclear anionic adduct, [K(2)(PF(6))(6)](4-), in which the two potassium centres are bridged by two fluorides from different hexafluorophosphate ions forming a K(2)F(2) bridging unit and by two KFPFK bridging moieties.     

Electrocatalytic response of GMP on an ITO electrode modified with a hybrid film of Ni(II)–Al(III) layered double hydroxide and amphiphilic Ru(II) cyanide complex

A thin film of Ni(II)–Al(III) layered double hydroxide hybridized with an amphiphilic anionic Ru(II) complex ((N(C₂H₅)₄)₂[Ru(CN)₄(dc18bpy)]:dc18bpy=4,4^′-octadecyl-2,2^′-bipyridine) was prepared by the Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) method. Hybridization was performed by spreading a chloroform solution of (N(C₂H₅)₄)₂[Ru(CN)₄(dc18bpy)] onto an aqueous suspension of Ni(II)–Al(III) layered double hydroxide. The film was deposited onto a solid substrate such as an ITO electrode and mica. Atomic force microscopic (AFM) observation on the deposited film confirmed that about 9.0 nm thick Ni(II)–Al(III) layered double hydroxide particles were uniformly adsorbed by the monolayer of Ru(II) complex. Cyclic voltammograms on an ITO electrode modified with a single layer of the hybrid film gave quasi-reversible reduction–oxidation peaks due to Ni(II)/Ni(III) in a phosphate buffer at pH 7.67. When the mononucleotide of guanosine 5^′-monophosphate (GMP) was added in an electrolyte solution, the increase of oxidation current above 800 mV (vs SCE) was observed at the expense of the reduction peak of Ni(III). The results indicate that Ni(II) in the layered double hydroxide lattice acts as a mediator in oxidation of GMP. The modified electrode shows great enhancement in the oxidation of GMP in comparison with a bare ITO electrode.     

Chemically engineered papain as artificial formate dehydrogenase for NAD(P)H regeneration

Organometallic complexes of the general formula [(η(6)-arene)Ru(N?N)Cl](+) and [(η(5)-Cp*)Rh(N?N)Cl](+) where N?N is a 2,2'-dipyridylamine (DPA) derivative carrying a thiol-targeted maleimide group, 2,2'-bispyridyl (bpy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) or ethylenediamine (en) and arene is benzene, 2-chloro-N-[2-(phenyl)ethyl]acetamide or p-cymene were identified as catalysts for the stereoselective reduction of the enzyme cofactors NAD(P)(+) into NAD(P)H with formate as a hydride donor. A thorough comparison of their effectiveness towards NAD(+) (expressed as TOF) revealed that the Rh(III) complexes were much more potent catalysts than the Ru(II) complexes. Within the Ru(II) complex series, both the N?N and arene ligands forming the coordination sphere had a noticeable influence on the activity of the complexes. Covalent anchoring of the maleimide-functionalized Ru(II) and Rh(III) complexes to the cysteine endoproteinase papain yielded hybrid metalloproteins, some of them displaying formate dehydrogenase activity with potentially interesting kinetic parameters.     

Luminescence of tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) cations ([Ru(bpy)(3)]2+) adsorbed in mesoporous silicas modified with sulfonated phenethyl group

The adsorption of tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) ([Ru(bpy)(3)]2+) complex cation into modified mesoporous silicas was investigated. In order to immobilize [Ru(bpy)(3)]2+, the mesopore surface was modified with sulfonic acid groups by the reactions between MCM-41 and phenethyl(dichloro)methylsilane and the subsequent sulfonation of the attached phenethyl groups with chlorosulfonic acid. The modified mesoporous silicas effectively adsorbed [Ru(bpy)(3)]2+ from ethanol solution. It was thought that the effective adsorption was the cause of the cooperative effects of the electrostatic interactions between [Ru(bpy)(3)]2+ cation and sulfonic acid group and the interactions between the phenyl rings on the mesopore surface and the bipyridine rings of the complex. The variation of the position and the intensity of the luminescence of [Ru(bpy)(3)]2+ suggested that the average distance between the adjacent [Ru(bpy)(3)]2+ changed with the loading amounts.