Contact-angle,ellipsometric, and spin-diffusion solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic investigations of copolymeric stationary phases immobilized on SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> surfaces

SiO₂ surfaces—silica gel particles and silica wafers—were modified by covalently immobilizing three poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) copolymers, (–CH₂CH₂–)_x[CH₂CH/(CO₂H)–]_y, with different chain lengths and mass fractions of acrylic acid. ¹³C solid-state NMR spectroscopy on the modified silica gel particles revealed both mobile gauche and rigid trans aligned alkyl chains in the copolymers. For copolymers attached to silica wafers via a 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane spacer molecule, ellipsometric measurements revealed a mean value of the layer thickness distribution of 6.5 and 4.3 nm, respectively, for the more acidic and the shorter copolymers with mobile alkyl chains mostly in the gauche conformation. For the longest and least acidic copolymer with more rigid trans ordered alkyl chains, however, a mean phase thickness of 10.6 nm was found. When this copolymer was immobilized via a 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane spacer molecule we measured a mean layer thickness of 9.9 nm. A model of the surface morphology of this immobilization strategy was derived using spin-diffusion ¹³C NMR measurements on the corresponding modified silica. It was thereby proven that the trans and gauche-aligned alkyl chains occur in distinct domains of certain sizes on the silica surface. The surface polarity of all modified silica wafers was also investigated by measurement of contact-angle.     

Raman spectroscopic study of the conformational order of octadecylsilane stationary phases: effects of electrolyte and pH

This study investigates effects of the electrolyte, of acidic and basic compounds, and of pH on the rotational and conformational order of octadecylsilane stationary phases with surface coverages of 3.09 and 6.45 mol/m². Both phases exhibit an increase in alkyl chain rotational and conformational order in 5–200 mM aqueous electrolyte solutions relative to water. These stationary phases are effectively salted-out of aqueous electrolyte solutions, thereby causing alkyl chain intermolecular interactions to increase with a concomitant increase in alkyl chain order. Although the presence of acidic and basic compounds generally has no effect on the conformational order of either stationary phase as a function of pH, the higher coverage stationary phase does exhibit pH-dependent changes in aqueous solutions of benzoic acid. At pH values below the pK_a of benzoic acid, the conformational order of this stationary phase is unchanged relative to that observed in the same pH solution in the absence of benzoic acid. In light of independent evidence that such monosubstituted aromatics interact with the octadecylsilane stationary phase under these conditions, the absence of a measurable effect on alkyl chain order for these conditions is attributed to benzoic acid self-association at the stationary phase-mobile phase interface. In contrast, at pH values above the pK_a of benzoic acid, slight disordering of the alkyl chains is observed and is attributed to repulsive interactions between retained benzoate anions.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at     

Investigation of Geometrical and Conformational Isomers of Cobalt(II) Bis(diphenylacetato)-bis(γ-picolinate) by Dynamic NMR Spectroscopy and Molecular Mechanics

Cobalt(II) bis(diphenylacetato)-bis(-picolinate) is synthesized and its geometrical and conformational isomers are investigated using dynamic NMR and molecular mechanics methods. The complex in the solution is shown to exist as cis and trans isomers, which are detected at 263 K in the course of a slow intermolecular ligand exchange. At T < 223 K, the intramolecular rotation of the phenyl radicals about the ^–O₂C–CH(Ph)₂ and ^–O₂CCH(Ph)–Ph bonds slows, which results in the formation of different conformers. The energies of the retarded intermolecular exchange and of the retarded rotation of the phenyl radicals were calculated from ¹H NMR and molecular mechanics data.     

Structure elucidation of β-carotene isomers by HPLC-NMR coupling using a C30 bonded phase

The separation of cis/trans isomers of β-carotene has been performed with a C₃₀ stationary phase employing ¹H NMR spectroscopy as an on-line detection technique. 1D as well as 2D NMR spectra have been recorded in the stopped-flow mode for the predominant chromatographic peaks. Structural assignment of the five identified isomers was performed via comparison of simulated 1D ¹H NMR spectra on the basis of the structures of β-carotene cis/trans isomers with the experimental data, and also by the analysis of the proton-proton connectivities in the 2D NMR spectra of three isomers with the highest concentration. The chromatographic retention behaviour of the isomers agreed well with previously reported data. The advantage of the applied hyphenated coupling technique compared to conventional off-line techniques lies in the fact that chromatographic separation and NMR detection are performed in a closed system, so that reisomerization of the separated compounds is inhibited. Received: 29 May 1996 / Revised: 1 July 1996 / Accepted: 4 July 1996     

Structure elucidation of β-carotene isomers by HPLC-NMR coupling using a C30 bonded phase

The separation of cis/trans isomers of β-carotene has been performed with a C₃₀ stationary phase employing ¹H NMR spectroscopy as an on-line detection technique. 1D as well as 2D NMR spectra have been recorded in the stopped-flow mode for the predominant chromatographic peaks. Structural assignment of the five identified isomers was performed via comparison of simulated 1D ¹H NMR spectra on the basis of the structures of β-carotene cis/trans isomers with the experimental data, and also by the analysis of the proton-proton connectivities in the 2D NMR spectra of three isomers with the highest concentration. The chromatographic retention behaviour of the isomers agreed well with previously reported data. The advantage of the applied hyphenated coupling technique compared to conventional off-line techniques lies in the fact that chromatographic separation and NMR detection are performed in a closed system, so that reisomerization of the separated compounds is inhibited. Received: 29 May 1996 / Revised: 1 July 1996 / Accepted: 4 July 1996     

Rapid analysis of pyrethroids in whole urine by high-performance liquid chromatography using a monolithic column and off-line preconcentration in a restricted access material cartridge

A rapid high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method using a monolithic column with UV detection at 238 nm was developed for the determination of fenpropathrin, betacyfluthrin, deltamethrin, and permethrin (cis and trans isomers) in whole urine. The method is based on the use of a monolithic chromatographic column and a restricted access material (RAM) cartridge for sample preparation. The mobile phase was water/acetonitrile (42:58 v/v), the flow rate was 3 mL min^–1, and chromatographic separation was carried out in 10 min. The separation of cis and trans isomers of permethrin was also possible under the above-mentioned conditions. Detection limits in reconstituted whole urine samples were between 0.9 g L^–1 for betacyfluthrin and 4.4 g L^–1 for fenpropathrin and trans-permethrin. Recoveries for urine samples spiked with different amounts of pyrethroids (between 19 g L^–1 and 75 g L^–1) were in the 70±6 to 90±7% range.     

Inner and outer-sphere reductive elimination during decomposition of the platinum(IV) β-ammonioethyl complex in aqueous solutions

The -ammonioethyl complex of platinum (IV), KPt(CH₂CH₂NH₃)Cl₅, undergoes two types of transformations in aqueous chloride solutions,i.e., inner- and outer-sphere reductive elimination, depending on the pH of the medium. In acidic solutions outer-sphere decomposition, which consists of an S_N2 attack by the chloride ion of the -carbon atom of the complex anion [trans-Pt(CH₂CH₂NH₃)Cl₄(H₂O)]^– (or at the complex with a vacant coordination site in thetrans-position relative to the -CH₂CH₂NH₃ group; these two variants are kinetically indistinguishable) occurs to yield -chloroaminoethane and PtCl₄ ^2–. In alkaline solutions decomposition occurs after deprotonation of the ammonium group of the starting complex as an intramolecular nucleophilic attack of the amino group at the -carbon atom in [trans-Pt(CH₂CH₂NH₂)Cl₄(H₂O)]^– (or in the complex with a vacant coordination site in thetrans-position relative to the -aminoethyl group). In this case aziridine (Az) and PtCl₄ ^2– are the primary products. Aziridine is coordinated with the unreacted starting complex to give a compound that is stable with respect to reductive elimination. Cyclometallation of the latter species gives the uncharged complex insoluble in water.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 518–524, March, 1994.     

Interactions of Some Amino Acids with Aqueous Tetraethylammonium Bromide at 298.15 K: A Volumetric Approach

The apparent molar volumes, V_,2, of glycine, L-alanine, DL--amino-n-butyric acid, L-valine, and L-leucine have been determined in aqueous 0.25, 0.75, 1.0, and 1.5 mol-dm^–3 tetraethylammonium bromide (TEAB) solutions by density measurements at 298.15 K. These data have been used to calculate the infinite dilution apparent molar volumes, V_2,m, for the amino acids in aqueous tetraethylammonium bromide and the standard partial molar volumes of transfer (_tr V_2,m) of the amino acids from water to the aqueous salt solutions. The linear correlation of V_2,m for a homologous series of amino acids has been utilized to calculate the contribution of the charged end groups (NH₃⁺, COO^–), CH₂ group, and other alkyl chains of the amino acids to V_2,m. The results of the standard partial molar volumes of transfer from water to aqueous tetraethylammonium bromide have been interpreted in terms of ion–ion, ion–polar, and hydrophobic–hydrophobic group interactions. The volume of transfer data suggest that ion–ion or ion–hydrophilic interactions are predominant in the case of glycine and alanine, and hydrophobic–hydrophobic group interactions are predominant in the case of DL--amino butyric acid, L-valine, and L-leucine.     

An investigation of mononuclear and binuclear palladium(II) complexes of egta (egta = glycine,N,N′-(1,2-ethanediylbis(oxy-2,1-ethanediyl)bis[N-carboxymethyl]) by 1H-, 13C- and 15N-n.m.r. methods

1:1 and 2:1 palladium(II) complexes of egta^4– (egta^4– = glycine, N,N-(1,2-ethanediylbis)(oxy-2,1-ethanediyl)bis[N-carboxymethyl]) were prepared by 1:1 and 2:1 addition of K₂PdCl₄ to K₄egta, and examined by ¹H-, ¹³C- and ¹⁵N-n.m.r. methods. The 1:1 complex, [Pd(egta)]^2– in solution, utilizes a square-planar coordination comprised of two nitrogen and two glycinato carboxylate donors of egta^4–, leaving two glycinato carboxylates pendant. The complex has a cis-(R,S) stereochemistry which places both pendant carboxylates below the PdN₂O₂ square plane and the tether backbone of egta^4– in the up, up sense above the same plane. The cis-(R,S) assignment was assisted by computer simulations of the ¹³C-n.m.r. spectrum for four possible isomers. Only cis-(R,S) and trans-(R,R) calculated ¹³C-spectra were compatible with the observed ¹³C-n.m.r. pattern. The HH NOESY spectrum of [Pd(egta)]^2– detects long range coupling of the backbone –OCH₂CH₂O– linkage with both coordinated and pendant glycinato CH₂ moieties. The cis-(R,S) isomer's tortional movements allow such contacts whereas a trans-(R,R) isomer does not. The 2:1 complex, [Pd₂(egta)(H₂O)₂] in solution has an extended-chain structure with each palladium(II) center coordinated in the mer-iminodiacetate-like coordination with two bound glycinato-functionalities.     

DSC and X-ray studies on side-chain crystallization of comb-like polymers

Thermal properties of acrylate and methacrylate monomers containing long-fluorocarbon chains (H(CF₂)_nCH₂OCOCH=CH₂, (F_nA) and H(CF₂)_nCH₂OCOC(CH₃)=CH₂, (F_nMA), wheren=6, 8, 10) and their comb-like polymers have been investigated by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and X-ray diffraction. The comb-like polymers (PF₁₀A and PF₁₀MA) with sufficiently long-fluorocarbon chains showed a simple melting and crystallizing behavior. For the fusion of PF₁₀A in 1st heating, enthalpy change H _f was 18 kJ mol^–1 and entropy change S _f was 45 J K^–1 mol^–1, while for PF₁₀MA the values H _f and S_f were 5.3 kJ mol^–1 and 14 J K^–1 mol^–1, respectively. Melted PF₈A crystallized slowly, whereas PF₈MA with same fluorocarbon chain and also both of PF₆A and PF₆MA with shorter fluorocarbon chains can hardly crystallize by the aggregation of side-chains. Effects of the length of side-chain and the flexibility of main chain on the side-chain crystallization of comb-like polymers are clear. Crystallization process of the methacrylate monomers was sensitively affected by the scanning rate of DSC measurement and the length of fluorocarbon chains.     

Synthesis, structure and DNA binding studies of mononuclear copper(II) complexes with mixed donor macroacyclic ligands, 2,6-bis({N-[2&3-(phenylselenato)alkyl]}benzimidoyl)-4-methylphenol

Two new phenol based macroacyclic Schiff base ligands, 2,6-bis({N-[2-(phenylselenato)ethyl]}benzimidoyl)-4-methylphenol (bpebmpH, 1) and 2,6-bis({N-[3-(phenylselenato)propyl]}benzimidoyl)-4-methylphenol (bppbmpH, 2) of the Se₂N₂O type have been prepared by the condensation of 4-methyl-2,6-dibenzoylphenol (mdbpH) with the appropriate (for specific reactions) phenylselenato(alkyl)amine. These ligands with Cu(II) acetate monohydrate in a 2:1 molar ratio in methanol form complexes of the composition [(C₆H₂(O)(CH₃){(C₆H₅)CN(CH₂)_nSe(C₆H₅)}{(C₆H₅)CO}₂Cu] (3 (n = 2), 4 (n = 3)) with the loss of phenylselenato(alkyl)amine and acetic acid. In both these complexes, one arm of the ligand molecule undergoes hydrolysis, and links with Cu(II) in a bidentate (NO) fashion, as confirmed by single crystal X-ray crystallography of complex 3. The selenium atoms do not form part of the copper(II) distorted square planar coordination sphere which has a trans-CuN₂O₂ core. The average Cu–N and Cu–O distances are, respectively, 1.973(3) and 1.898(2) Å. The N–Cu–N and O–Cu–O angles are, respectively, 167.4(11)° and 164.5(12)°. The compounds 1–4 have been characterized by elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, mass spectrometry, IR, electronic, ¹H and ⁷⁷Se{¹H} NMR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The interaction of complex 3 with calf thymus DNA has been investigated by a spectrophotometric method and cyclic voltammetry.     

Modeling of serine protease prototype reactions with the flexible effective fragment potential quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical method

A complete cycle of chemical transformations for the serine protease prototype reaction is modeled following calculations with the flexible effective fragment quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) method. The initial molecular model is based on the crystal structure of the trypsin–bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor complex including all atoms of the enzyme within approximately 15–18 Å of the oxygen center O of the catalytic serine residue. Several selections of the QM/MM partitioning are considered. Fractions of the side chains of the residues from the catalytic triad (serine, histidine and aspartic acid) and a central part of a model substrate around the C–N bond to be cleaved are included into the QM subsystem. The remaining part, or the MM subsystem, is represented by flexible chains of small effective fragments, whose potentials explicitly contribute to the Hamiltonian of the QM part, but the corresponding fragment–fragment interactions are described by the MM force fields. The QM/MM boundaries are extended over the C–C bonds of the peptides assigned to the QM subsystem in the enzyme, C–C and C–N bonds in model substrates. Multiple geometry optimizations have been performed by using the RHF/6-31G method in the QM part and OPLSAA or AMBER sets of MM parameters, resulting in a series of stationary points on the complex potential-energy surfaces. All structures generally accepted for the serine protease catalytic cycle have been located. Energies at the stationary points found have been recomputed at the MP2/6-31+G^* level for the QM part in the protein environment. Structural changes along the reaction path are analyzed with special attention to hydrogen-bonding networks. In the case of a model substrate selected as a short peptide CH₃(NHCO-CH₂)₂ – HN–CO–(CH₂–NHCO)CH₃ the computed energy profile for the acylation step shows too high activation energy barriers. The energetics of this rate-limiting step is considerably improved, if more realistic model for the substrate is considered, following the motifs of the ThrI11–GlyI12–ProI13-–CysI14–LysI15–AlaI16–ArgI17–IleI18–IleI19 sequence of the bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor.     

Separation of aminoacidato ruthenium(II) complexes by ion-pair chromatography

Summary The chromatographic conditions for analytical separation of (⁶-C₆H₆) ruthenium(II) complexes with amino acid and dipeptide ligands have been investigated in dependence on their molecular structure. Different chromatographic phases were tested and the efficiency parameters were determined by the reversed-phase ion-pair technique. For the enantiomeric species L-penicillaminato ruthenium(II) complexes cis- and trans-[(⁶-C₆H₆)Ru(L-Pen)H_–1]₂Cl₂ and the reaction byproducts a complete chromatographic separation has been obtained using sodium dodecylsulphate as an ion-pair reagent. For the purification procedure of the L-penicillaminato ruthenium(II) complexes, in order to characterize the separated pure complexes by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, a preparative separation has been carried out using the volatile trifluoroacetic acid as an ion-pair reagent.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Wilhelm Fresenius on the occassion of his 80th birthday     

NMR spectra of a hydrocarbon-soluble organosodium compound and its lithium analogs

¹H,²³Na, and⁷Li NMR spectra of 2-ethyl hexylsodiurn, 2-ethylhexyllithium, and isobutyllithium obtained in the reaction of the corresponding alkyl chlorides and metals have been recorded. The¹H N MR signal for the protons of the CH₂Na group is shifted upheld compared with that for the protons of the CH₂Li group (doublets at -0.88 and -0.83, respectively). The composition of the products of reaction of 2-ethylhexyl chloride with sodium depends on the form of the metal reagent employed. The use of sodium balls with diameter up to 2 mm results in the formation of products containing ionic chlorine (30–50 % with respect to Na); the reaction with the dispersion proceeds faster and the reaction product is chlorine-free. The²³Na NMR spectra of these substances are also different, which is explained by the formation of 2-ethylhexylsodium complexes with NaCl in the former case.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 883–885, April, 1996.     

IR Study of p–π Conjugation in 2-Substituted 4-Methylene-1,3-dioxolanes and 4-Methyl-1,3-dioxoles

Selected group frequencies of the IR spectra of a number of 2-substituted 4-methylene-1,3-dioxolanes (a) and their endocyclic isomers, 2-substituted 4-methyl-1,3-dioxoles (b), have been studied to establish their usefulness as a measure of the strength of p– conjugation in the O—C=C moieties of the title compounds. In the exo compounds (a), the C=C stretching frequencies C=C and the in-phase, out-of-plane bending (wagging) frequencies CH₂ w of the =CH₂ group were found to be linearly related, besides to each other, also to the electron-donating character of the substituents and the ¹³C NMR chemical shift of the C atom of the exocyclic CH₂ group. This suggests that the two IR group frequencies of the exo isomers are linearly related to the strength of p– conjugation in the O—C=C moiety. The C=C stretching absorption of the exo compounds in the 1600–1700 cm^–1 region appeared as a doublet, shown to arise from Fermi resonance of the C=C fundamental with the CH₂ w overtone. The C=C frequencies of the endo compounds support some previous findings of an unexpected strength of p– conjugation in the 2-alkoxy derivatives. Finally, DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory are shown to give accurate predictions of the effect of 2-substituents on the group frequencies.     

Capillary gas chromatography of C1−C4 alkyl tert-butyl ethers

Summary The separation of C₁–C₄ alkyl tert-butyl ethers with the general formula (CH₃)₃C–O–R (R-alkyl substituent) on fused-silica capillary columns coated with dimethylsilicone and cyanopropylmethylsilicone stationary phases was investigated. Retention indices were determined at two temperatures in order to understand their chromatographic behaviour. The respective standard deviations were 0.3 and 0.5 i.u.     

Molecular structure,conformational mobility,vibrational spectra,and thermochemistry of peroxyacetic acid: an ab initio and density functional study

The structure of the peroxyacetic acid (PAA) molecule and its conformational mobility under rotation about the peroxide bond was studied by ab initio and density functional methods. The free rotation is hindered by the trans-barrier of height 22.3 kJ mol^–1. The equilibrium molecular structure of AcOOH (C _s symmetry) is a result of intramolecular hydrogen bond. The high energy of hydrogen bonding (46 kJ mol^–1 according to natural bonding orbital analysis) hampers formation of intermolecular associates of AcOOH in the gas and liquid phases. The standard enthalpies of formation for AcOOH (–353.2 kJ mol^–1) and products of radical decomposition of the peroxide — AcO^· (–190.2 kJ mol^–1) and AcOO^· (–153.4 kJ mol^–1) — were determined by the G2 and G2(MP2) composite methods. The O—H and O—O bonds in the PAA molecule (bond energies are 417.8 and 202.3 kJ mol^–1, respectively) are much stronger than in alkyl hydroperoxide molecules. This provides an explanation for substantial contribution of non-radical channels of the decomposition of peroxyacetic acid. The electron density distribution and gas-phase acidity of PAA were determined. The transition states of the ethylene and cyclohexene epoxidation reactions were located (E _a = 71.7 and 50.9 kJ mol^–1 respectively).     

Characterization of [Re2Cl3(μ-dppm)2(NCCH3)2][Cl] and [Re2Cl3(μ-dppm)2(NCC6H5)2][Cl]·2CH2Cl2 by X-ray Crystallographic and Two-Dimensional NMR Spectroscopic Techniques

The complex Re₂Cl₆(P-n-Bu₃)₂ prepared in situ reacts with CH₃CN to form a blue-green solution. Addition of the chelating phosphine bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) results in the formation of the complex [Re₂Cl₃(-dppm)₂(NCCH₃)₂][Cl] (1) upon heating. The two acetonitrile molecules adopt a trans geometry on the rhenium center with the axially coordinated chlorine. The analogous trans benzonitrile species [Re₂Cl₃(-dppm)₂(NCC₆H₅)₂][Cl]·2CH₂Cl₂ (2) is synthesized under the same reaction conditions. The coupling constants of the AABB ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectra of the compounds were elucidated from ³¹P–³¹P homonuclear J-resolved NMR experiments. Additional characterization methods include ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography.     

Volumetric Properties of Amino Acids and Hen-Egg White Lysozyme in Aqueous Triton X-100 at 298.15 K

The apparent molar volumes, V_,2, of glycine, alanine, -amino-n-butyric acid, valine, leucine, and lysine monohydrochloride have been determined in aqueous solutions of 0.05, 0.1, and 0.4 mol-kg^–1 Triton X-100 (TX-100), and the partial specific volume, v⁰, of hen-egg-white lysozyme in 0.4 mol-kg^–1 TX-100 by density measurements at 298.15 K. These data have been used to calculate the infinite dilution apparent molar volumes, V_2,m⁰, for the amino acids in aqueous TX-100 solutions and the standard partial molar volumes of transfer, _tr V_2,m⁰, of the amino acids from water to the aqueous surfactant solutions. The linear correlation of V_2,m⁰ for a homologous series of amino acids has been utilized to calculate the contribution of the charged end groups (NH₃⁺, COO^–), CH₂ group and other alkyl chains of the amino acids to V_2,m⁰. The results on _tr V_2,m⁰, of amino acids from water to aqueous TX-100 solutions have been interpreted in terms of ion–ion, ion–polar, hydrophilic–hydrophilic and hydrophobic–hydrophobic group interactions. For all the six amino acids studied, the values of _tr V_2,m⁰ from water to all the studied concentrations of aqueous TX-100 are small in spite of their different hydrophobic content, indicating an overall balance in interactions of zwitterionic/hydrophilic groups of amino acids with the hydrophilic groups of TX-100, and of hydrophobic and ionic/hydrophilic groups of the amino acids with hydrophobic groups of TX-100. Comparison of the interactions of the amino acids with nonionic, anionic and cationic surfactants has also been made and discussed. The partial specific volume of transfer of lysozyme from water to aqueous TX-100 solutions also indicates a balance of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions in the protein–nonionic surfactant system.     

Reaction of Ru(PPh3)3Cl2 with arylazoimidazoles: spectral characterisation and redox studies of [bis-{N(1)-alkyl-2-(arylazo)imidazole}-bis-(triphenylphosphine)]-ruthenium(II) perchlorate

Ru(PPh₃)₃Cl₂ reacts with N(1)-alkyl-2-(arylazo)imidazoles, p-RC₆H₄N=NC₃H₂N₂X, [RaaiX, R = H(a), Me(b), Cl(c); X = Me(1), Et(2), Bz(3)] under refluxing conditions in EtOH to give [Ru(RaaiX)₂(PPh₃)₂](ClO₄)₂ · H₂O complexes (4–6). RaaiX is a bidentate chelator (N, N) with N(imidazole), N and N(azo), N donor centres. Three isomers are present in the mixture in which the pairs of PPh₃, N and N occupy cis–cis–trans, cis–trans–cis and cis–cis–cis, positions respectively. The isomers were identified by ¹H-n.m.r. spectra. Four signals are observed in the aliphatic zone for N(1)-X; two are of equal intensity at higher and the other two signals at lower in the ratio 1:0.3:0.2 suggesting the presence of cis–cis–cis, cis–trans–cis and cis–cis–trans-geometry. The complexes display the allowed t ₂(Ru) ^*(RaaiX) transition. Cyclic voltammetry indicates two consecutive Ru^III/II couples along with azo reductions.