Derivatization of bichromic cyclometalated Ru(II) complexes with hydrophobic substituents

The syntheses and physical properties of cyclometalated Ru(II) complexes containing a triphenylamine (TPA) unit bearing aliphatic groups are reported. Each member of the series consists of an octahedral Ru(II) center coordinated by a tridentate polypyridyl ligand and a tridentate cyclometalating ligand. One of the chelating ligands contains electron-deficient methyl ester groups, while a TPA unit is attached to the central ring of the adjacent chelating ligand through a thiophene bridge. This study builds on our previous work (Inorg. Chem. 2011, 50, 6019-6028; Inorg. Chem. 2011, 50, 5494-5508) by (i) outlining a synthetic protocol for installing aliphatic groups on the TPA substituents, (ii) examining the role that terminal -O-hexyl and -S-hexyl groups situated on the TPA have on the electrochemical properties, and (iii) demonstrating the potential benefit of installing the TPA on the neutral chelating ligand rather than the anionic chelating ligand. The results reported herein provide important synthetic advances for our broader goal of developing bis-tridentate cyclometalated Ru(II) complexes for light-harvesting applications.     

Hybridization vs. bond stretching isomerism in Ru(II) cyclometalated complexes of 2-phenylpyridine

The phenomenon of formation of two isomers, yellow and orange, of the cyclometalated Ru(II) complex, [Ru(o-C?H?-py)(MeCN)?]?, was investigated by EELS spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. Both forms show very similar structures and spectroscopic properties, but slight differences in X-ray data and absorption between them were noted. No double minimum on the potential energy surface was found and thus these two forms cannot be considered as bond stretching isomers. However, the DFT study revealed the change in the hybridization of the carbon in trans-position of one of acetonitrile ligands. This effect can be responsible for the difference in colour. The results of the theoretical modelling coincide well with the experimental EELS data.     

DFT and TD-DFT calculations on the electronic structures and spectroscopic properties of cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes

The electronic structures and spectroscopic properties of the three tridentate cyclometalated Pt(II) complexes Pt(N/\N/\C)C(triple bond)CPh (N/\N/\CH = 6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridine) (1), Pt(N/\N/\S)C(triple bond)CPh (N/\N/\SH = 6-thienyl-2,2'-bipyridine) (2), and Pt(N/\N/\O)C(triple bond)CPh (N/\N/\OH = 6-furyl-2,2'-bipyridine) (3) were investigated theoretically using the density functional theory (DFT) method. The geometric structures of the complexes in the ground and excited states were explored at the B3LYP and UB3LYP levels, respectively. The absorption and emission spectra of the complexes in CH2Cl2 and CH3CN solutions were calculated by time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) with the PCM solvent model. The calculated energies of the lowest singlet state and lowest triplet state in the three complexes are in good agreement with the results of experimental absorption and luminescence studies. All of the lowest-lying transitions were categorized as LLCT combined with MLCT transitions. The 623-nm emission of 1 from the 3A' --> 1A' transition was assigned as 3LLCT and 3MLCT transitions, whereas the 657- and 681-nm emissions of 2 and 3, respectively, were attributed to 3ILCT perturbed by 3MLCT transitions. NLO response calculations revealed that the nonzero values of the static first hyperpolarizability (beta0) for 1-3 are greatly enhanced through the introduction of the metal Pt(II) into the cyclometalated ligands, an effect that is determined by MLCT and LLCT transitions.     

Advances on supramolecular assembly of cyclometalated platinum(Ⅱ) complexes

Organoplatinum(Ⅱ) compounds have received enormous attention over the past decades due to their square-planar geometry as well as intriguing photo-physical properties.Self-assembly has emerged as an excellent approach to create well-ordered supramolecular architectures with tunable properties,which underpin the role of solvent-directed approach for the design of functional materials.In this minireview,the recent advances on supramolecular self-assembly of cyclometalated platinum(Ⅱ) complexes have been discussed.During the self-assembly process,non-covalent Pt-Pt and π-π interactions play crucial roles in controlling the structures and functions of the resulting assemblies.     

The effect of phenyl group on the electronic and phosphorescent properties of cyclometalated analogues of platinum(II) terpyridine complexes: a theoretical study

In this work, we theoretically investigate the effect of phenyl group on the electronic and phosphorescent properties of cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes, thereby designing an efficient blue emitting material. Three platinum(II) complexes Pt(N^N^N)Cl (N^N^N = terpyridine), Pt(N^C^N)Cl (N^C^N = 1,3-di(2-pyridyl)-benzene) and Pt(N^N^C)Cl (N^N^C = 6-phenyl-2,2′-bipyridines) are chosen as the models. Their electronic and phosphorescent properties are investigated utilizing quantum theoretical calculations. The results reveal that the phenyl group significantly affects the molecular and electronic structures, charge distribution and phosphorescent properties. The coordination bond length trans to phenyl group is the longest among the same type of bonds owing to the trans influence of phenyl group. Moreover, the phenyl group largely restricts the geometry relaxation of cyclometalated ligand. The strong σ-donor ability of Pt–C bond makes more electrons center at Pt atom and the fragments trans to phenyl group. In comparison with Pt(N^N^N)Cl and Pt(N^N^C)Cl, the complex Pt(N^C^N)Cl has the smallest excited-state geometry relaxation and the biggest emission energy and spatial overlap between the transition orbitals in the emission process. As a result, Pt(N^C^N)Cl has the largest emission efficiency, which well agrees with the experimental observation. Based on these calculation results, a potentially efficient blue-emitting material is designed via replacing pyridine groups in Pt(N^C^N)Cl by 3-methylimidazolin-2-ylidene.     

Iron(II) and ruthenium(II) complexes with polypyridine derivatives as sensitizers for DSSC: the structure and spectral properties,as studied by quantum chemistry methods

Density functional calculations of the geometries, electronic structures, and spectral properties of a series of iron(II) and ruthenium(II) complexes with 4,4´,4´,4´´-substituted 2,2´:6´2´´:6´´,2´´´-quaterpyridines were carried out. A high-spin state is characteristic of the iron(II) complexes with Cl^–, NO^–, CNS^–, and I^– as axial ligands while a low-spin state is characteristic of the iron(II) complex with a CN^– axial ligand. Calculations of the complexes with the nitroxide ligand predict intense absorption in a wide wavelength range up to the IR region.     

Syntheses, structures, spectroscopic, electrochemical properties and DFT calculation of Ru(II)–thioarylazoimidazole complexes

The reaction of 1-alkyl-2-{(o-thioalkyl)phenylazo}imidazoles (SRaaiNR) (2a/2b) with Ru(II) has synthesized [Ru(SRaaiNR)₂](ClO₄)₂ (3a/3b) in 2-methoxyethanol. The reaction in methanol, however, has synthesized [Ru(SRaaiNR)(SRaaiNR)Cl](ClO₄) (4a/4b). The solid phase reaction of SRaaiNR and RuCl₃ on silica gel surface upon microwave irradiation has synthesized [Ru(SRaaiNR)(SaaiNR)](PF₆) (5a/5b) [SRaaiNR represents tridentate N,N′,S-chelator; SRaaiNR is N,N′-bidentate chelator where S does not coordinate and SaaiNR refers N,N′,S-chelator where S refers to thiolato binding]. The structural characterization of [Ru(SEtaaiNEt)(SEtaaiNEt)Cl](ClO₄) (4b) and [Ru(SEtaaiNEt)(SaaiNEt)](PF₆) (5b) has been confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The IR, UV–Vis, and ¹H NMR spectral data also support the stereochemistry of the complexes. The complexes show metal oxidation, Ru(III)/Ru(II), and ligand reductions (azo/azo⁻, azo⁻/azo). The molecular orbital diagram has been drawn by density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Normal mode of analysis has been performed to correlate calculated and experimental frequencies of representative complexes. The electronic movement and assignment of electronic spectra have been carried out by TDDFT calculation both in gas and acetonitrile phase.     

Binuclear schiff-base complexes of copper(II) linked by phthaloyl as a bridging group

Binuclear Schiff-base complexes were prepared by bridging an unsymmetrical tetradentate Schiff-base complex of copper(II) with m- or p-phthaloyl. The complexes were characterized by means of elemental analyses, molecular weights, UV, IR and ¹H NMR (for metal-free ligands) spectra. ESR and magnetic susceptibility measurements show that the copper(II)copper(II) interaction is negligibly small.     

Synthesis,characterization and biological application of cyclometalated heteroleptic platinum(II) complexes

A series of square planar cyclometalated heteroleptic platinum(II) complexes of the type [(C^N)Pt(O^O)] [where, O^O is a β‐diketonato ligand of acetylacetone (acac), C^N = cyclometalating 7‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐5‐phenylpyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine (L¹), 7‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐5‐phenylpyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine (L²), 7‐(4‐bromophenyl)‐5‐phenylpyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine (L³), 7‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐5‐phenylpyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine (L⁴), 5‐phenyl‐7‐(p‐tolyl)pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine (L⁵)] have been design, synthesized and characterized. All compounds have been screened for biological studies like in vitro antibacterial, in vitro cytotoxicity, cellular level cytotoxicity, absorption titration, viscosity measurements, fluorescence quenching analysis, molecular docking and DNA nuclease. The intrinsic binding constants (K_b) of compounds with HS‐DNA has been obtained in range of 2.892–0.242 × 10⁵ M^?1. All the compounds bound with HS DNA by partial intercalative mode of binding. MIC study has been carried out against Gram^(+ve) and Gram^(?ve) bacterial species. In vitro cytotoxicity against brine shrimp lethality bioassay has been also carried out. The LC₅₀ values of the ligands and complexes have been found in range of 56.49–120.22 μg/mL and 6.71–11.96 μg/mL, respectively.     

Comparative study on the photophysical properties between carbene-based Fe (II) and Ru (II) complexes

The comparative study on the photophysical properties between cheap metal Fe (II) complexes and noble metal Ru (II) complexes with identical ligand coordination is performed by the combination of density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) to evaluate the potential alternative applications of Fe (II) complexes. RuBIP (BIP = 2,6-bis (imidazol-2- ylidene)pyridine) is theoretically established that the radiative lifetime of the second lowest triplet state is more consistence with experimental value. However, FeBIP retains nonluminous because of low-lying ³MC originated from weak d orbital splitting. FeBIPC (FeBIP with carboxylic acid groups) has twice longer lifetime than its parent complex FeBIP due to the great decrease of the energy gap between ³MLCT and ³MC. What's more, the lifetimes of Fe (II) complexes detected in the experiments are more accessible to nonradiative decay lifetimes of ³MC. The carboxylic acid groups are beneficial for the improvement of luminescent possibility and controllability of Fe (II) complexes, while there is still a huge challenge for effective material replacement comparing with Ru (II) complexes.     

Electronic structures and optical properties of neutral substituted fluorene-based cyclometalated platinum(II)-acetylide complexes: A DFT exploration

We report a combinational DFT and TD-DFT study of the electronic and optical properties of several tridentate cyclometalated mononuclear [Pt(C^N^N)(CCR)] (1-3), [Pt(C^N^N)(CCRCCH)] (4), and dinuclear [Pt(C^N^N)(CCRCC)Pt(C^N^N)] (5 (C₂ symmetry) and 5′ (C_s symmetry)) platinum(II) complexes with σ-acetylide ligand bearing fluorene substituents, where HC^N^N = 6-aryl-2,2′-bipyridine, R = fluorene-2,7-diyl 1, 4, 5 and 5′, R = 9,9-dimethylfluorene-2,7-diyl 2, R = 9,9-diethylfluorene-2,7-diyl 3. The structural and electronic properties of the ground- and lowest triplet state and the EA and IP values of the complexes are discussed. It is found that all of the lowest-lying absorptions are categorized as the LLCT combined with the MLCT transitions. The oscillator strengths of the lowest energy absorptions get a remarkable enhancement for the dinuclear complexes 5 and 5′compared to 1-4 due to the increase of electronic delocalization on the more planar molecular geometry. In general, the phosphorescent emissions of these complexes in CH₂Cl₂ are the reverse process of their lowest energy absorption transitions, except that of 4 is assigned as ³[π∗−π]/³MLCT transition because of the strengthened electronic localization effect and the interaction with the solvent in the lowest triplet state. In addition, these complexes hold promise as a new kind of nonlinear optical material owing to their large static first hyperpolarizabilities (β₀). The β₀ value has increased in the dinuclear complexes in contrast to those of the mononuclear ones owing to their larger transition moment and smaller transition energy.     

Photo- and electrochemical redox behavior of cyclometalated Ru(II) complexes having a 3-phenylbenzo[b][1,6]naphthyridine ligand

Cyclometalated Ru(II) complexes having a 3-phenylbenzo[b][1,6]naphthyridine (phbn) ligand have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods. The photo- and electrochemical redox behavior of the complexes are demonstrated. Complex [Ru(phbn)(bpy)(2)]PF(6) ([1]PF(6)) readily undergoes proton coupled two electron reduction by chemical, electrochemical, and photochemical methods to generate [Ru(phbnHH)(bpy)(2)]PF(6) ([1HH]PF(6)). The photochemical oxidation of [1HH]PF(6) was also observed in presence of p-chloranil.     

Synthesis, structures and spectroscopic properties of cyclometalated tri-tert-butylphosphine complexes of platinum(II)

Reactions of [Pt₂(μ-Cl)₂(C^∩P)₂] (C^∩P = CH₂C(Me₂)PBu^t₂-C,P) with various anionic ligands differing in ligand bite and denticity have been investigated and the resulting products have been characterized by elemental analyses and NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P, ¹⁹⁵Pt) spectroscopy. Stereochemistry of the complexes has been deduced by NMR spectroscopy. Structures of [Pt₂(μ-SPh)₂(C^∩P)₂], [Pt₂(μ-pz)₂(C^∩P)₂], [PtCl(Spy)(PBu^t₃)], [Pt₂(μ-SCOPh)₂(C^∩P)₂] and [Pt{S₂P(OPrⁱ)₂}(C^∩P)] have been established by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. The complex [Pt₂(μ-SPh)₂(C^∩P)₂] adopts a sym cis configuration while other binuclear complexes exist in a sym trans configuration. The molecular structure of [Pt{S₂P(OPrⁱ)₂}(C^∩P)] revealed that complex comprises of two four-membered chelate rings but in solution a dimeric structure based on ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR data has been suggested.     

Synthesis, characterization and antitumor activity study of some cyclometalated organoplatinum(II) complexes containing aromatic N-donor ligands

A general approach has been designed to synthesize some mononuclear and binuclear cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes, containing aromatic N-donor ligands with the presence of one Cl⁻trans to carbon. In this way, cyclometalated platinum(II) complex [Pt(C^N)Cl(dmso)], 1, C^N = N(1),C(2′)-chelated, deprotonated 2-phenylpyridine and dmso = dimethylsulfoxide, was used as a precursor to react with imidazole derivatives (1-methylimidazole, 2a, imidazole, 2b,), monodentate pyridine derivatives (4-methylpyridine, 2c, pyridine, 2d,) and bidentate pyridine derivative (4,4′-bipyridine, 3 and 4,). Synthesized complexes were fully characterized by using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹³C{¹H} and ¹⁹⁵Pt), correlation NMR spectroscopy (¹H-¹H COSY, ¹³C{¹H}-¹H Heteronuclear Multiple Quantum Correlation, HMQC, Heteronuclear Multiple Bond Correlation, HMBC, ¹⁵N-¹H HETCOR), elemental analysis, X-ray crystallography and ESI-Mass spectrometry. Antitumor effects of mononuclear cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes 2a, 2c, 2d and 3 were determined on Jurkat, K562, and Raji cell lines and results showed reasonable cytotoxicities.     

Synthesis,characterization and DNA-binding properties of Ru(II) complexes coordinated by ofloxacin as potential antitumor agents

Three Ru complexes coordinated by oxfloxacin, [Ru(L)₂(OFX)]Cl·2H₂O (L = bpy, 1; dmbpy, 2; phen, 3; and OFX = ofloxacin), were synthesized and characterized. These complexes can inhibit the growth of cervical cancer HeLa cells efficiently. Furthermore, these three complexes exhibited excellent binding affinities with DNA, as confirmed by spectroscopy methods and viscosity experiments. Therefore, the synthesized Ru(II) complexes have excellent DNA-binding abilities with potential applications in cancer chemotherapy.     

A DFT/TD-DFT study on the possible replacement of Ru(II) with Fe(II) in phthalocyanine-based dye-sensitized solar cells

Structural Chemistry - Density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory (DFT/TD-DFT) methods have been used to study the photo-voltaic and photophysicochemical properties of...     

Photocrosslinking between peptide-peptide or peptide-oligonucleotide by Ru(II)-TAP complexes

Ru(II)-TAP complexes have been shown to be very attractive compounds in the frame of developments of new anticancer drugs targeting the genetic material. This increasing interest originates from observations of covalent bond formations, triggered by photo-induced electron transfer (PET) between Ru(II)-TAP complexes and guanine bases of DNA. This photoreaction has recently been extended to the tryptophan (Trp) amino acid for future applications involving peptides. Thus, a double photo-addition of Trp residues of peptides on Ru(II) complexes is demonstrated by mass spectrometry with some structural issues. Such bi-adduct formations offer the possibility of photocrosslinking two Trp-containing biomolecules, which is investigated in this study. Thus, photocrosslinking between two complementary oligonucleotides (ODNs) derivatized by Trp-containing tripeptides is demonstrated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) in the presence of Ru(II)-TAP complexes. Both PAGE and MS indicate that such photocrosslinkings arise from two reaction pathways: either via the double addition of Trp residues on the Ru complex or from dimerization of Trp radicals. The competition between these two pathways depends on the experimental conditions. Heterobridgings between guanine bases and tryptophan residues mediated by Ru(II)-TAP complexes is also examined, opening the way to ODN-peptide photocrosslinkings.