[2]Catenanes Built Around Octahedral Transition‐Metal Complexes that Contain Two Intertwined Endocyclic but Non‐sterically Hindering Tridentate Ligands

Sterically hindering bidentate chelates, such as 2,9‐diphenyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline, form entwined complexes with copper(I) and other tetrahedrally coordinated transition‐metal centres. To prepare octahedral complexes containing two entwined tridentate ligands and thus apply a strategy similar to that used for making catenanes with tetrahedral metal centres, the use of the classical terpy ligand (terpy=2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine) appears to be attractive. In fact, 6,6′′‐diphenyl‐2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine (dp‐terpy) is not appropriate due to strong “pinching” of the organic backbone by coordination to the metal and thus stable entwined complexes with this ligand cannot be obtained. Herein, we report the synthesis and coordination properties of a new family of tridentate ligands, the main features of which are their endocyclic nature and non‐sterically hindering character. The coordinating fragment consists of two 8′‐phenylisoquinolin‐3′‐yl groups attached at the 2 and 6 positions of a pyridine nucleus. Octahedral complexes containing two such entangled ligands around an octahedral metal centre, such as Fe^II, Ru^II or Co^III, are highly stable, with no steric congestion around the metal. By using functionalised ligands bearing terminal olefins, double ring‐closing metathesis leads to [2]catenanes in good yield with Fe^II or Co^III as the templating metal centre. The X‐ray crystallography structures of the Fe^II precursor and the Fe^II catenane are also reported. These show that although significant pinching of the ligand is observed in both Fe^II complexes, the system is very open and no steric constraints can be detected.     

Synthesis of achiral and racemic catenanes based on terpyridine and a directionalized terpyridine mimic, pyridyl-phenanthroline

Concatenated macrocycles containing manisyl-substituted tridentate ligands 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine and 2-pyridin-2-yl-1,10-phenanthroline (simply referred to as terpyridine and pyridyl-phenanthroline herein) have been prepared via dual cyclization procedures. The manisyl derivative (manisyl = 4-methoxy-2,6-dimethylphenyl) was chosen for its ability to improve solubility while simultaneously incorporating functionality. Deprotection of the methoxy groups provided a soluble ligand that was re-alkylated with an array of terminal alkyne and alkene linkers. The tridentate coordinating ability of these ligands enabled complexation with Ru(ii) and Fe(ii), generating achiral and racemic octahedral complexes for terpyridine and pyridyl-phenanthroline, respectively. Subsequent macrocyclization via olefin metathesis or copper-mediated alkyne coupling afforded the corresponding catenanes, and in some cases a figure-eight macrocycle. The difference in symmetry and the presence of the manisyl group allowed the distinction between the catenane and the undesired figure-eight to be made directly by (1)H NMR. Metal-free achiral and racemic catenanes were obtained by liberating Fe(ii) from the octahedral bound title ligands by treatment with hydrogen peroxide.     

Electrochemical probing of ground state electronic interactions in polynuclear complexes of a new heteroditopic ligand

The synthesis and electronic properties of dinuclear ([(bipy)2Ru(I)M(terpy)][PF6]4(bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine, terpy = 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine; M = Ru, Os)) and trinuclear ([[(bipy)2Ru(I)]2M][PF6]6 M = Ru, Os, Fe, Co) complexes bridged by 4'-(2,2'-bipyridin-4-yl)-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (I) have been investigated and are compared with those of mononuclear model complexes. The electrochemical analysis using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry reveals that there are no interactions in the ground state between adjacent metal centres. However, there is strong electronic communication between the 2,2'-bipyridine and 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine components of the bridging ligand. This conclusion is supported by a step-by-step reduction of the dinuclear and trinuclear complexes and the assignment of each electrochemical process to localised ligand sites within the didentate and terdentate domains. The investigation of the electronic absorption and emission spectra reveals an energy transfer in the excited state from the terminating bipy-bound metal centres to the central terpy-bound metal centre. This indicates that the bridge is able to facilitate energy transfer in the excited state between the metal centres despite the lack of interactions in the ground state.     

A strategy for improving the room-temperature luminescence properties of Ru(II) complexes with tridentate ligands

Several ruthenium(II) complexes with new tridentate polypyridine ligands have been prepared, and their photophysical properties have been studied. The new tridentate ligands are tpy-modified systems (tpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine) in which aromatic substituents designed to be coplanar with the tpy moiety are introduced, with the aim of enhancing delocalization in the acceptor ligand of the potentially luminescent metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) state and increasing the MLCT-MC energy gap (MC = metal-centered excited state). Indeed, the Ru(II) complexes obtained with this new family of tridentate ligands exhibit long-lived luminescence at room temperature (up to 200 ns). The enhanced luminescence properties of these complexes support this design strategy and are superior to those of the model Ru(tpy)22+ compound and compare favorably with those of the best Ru(II) complexes with tridentate ligands reported so far.     

Rapid ligand substitution reactions in ionic liquids studied by stopped-flow technique

Detailed kinetic studies on ligand substitution reactions of [M(II)(terpy)Cl](+) complexes (M = Pt, Pd; terpy = 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) with thiourea as entering nucleophile were for the first time performed in the imidazolium based ionic liquid [emim][NTf(2)] using stopped-flow techniques, opening the route to study fast reactions of transition metal complexes in ionic liquids.     

Synthesis and redox behavior of biferrocenyl-functionalized ruthenium(II) terpyridine gold clusters

Spectroscopic and electrochemical characterizations of ferrocene- and biferrocene-functionalized terpyridine octanethiolate monolayer-protected clusters were investigated and reported. The electrochemical measurements of Ru2+ coordinated with 4'-ferrocenyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine and 4'-biferrocenyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine complexes were dominated by the Ru2+/Ru3+ redox couple (E(1/2) at approximately 1.3 V), Fe(2+)/Fe(3+) redox couples (E(1/2) from approximately 0.6 to approximately 0.9 V), and terpy/terpy-/terpy2- redox couples (E(1/)(2) at ca. -1.2 and ca. -1.4 V). The substantial appreciable variations detected in the Ru2+/Ru3+ and Fe2+/Fe3+ oxidation potentials indicate that there is an interaction between the Ru2+ and Fe2+ metal centers. The coordination of the Ru2+ metal center with 4'-ferrocenyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine and 4'-biferrocenyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine leads to an intense 1[(d(pi)Fe)6] --> 1[d(pi)Fe)5(pi*terpyRu)1] transition in the visible region. The 1[(d(pi)Fe)6] -->1[d(pi)Fe)5(pi*terpyRu)1] transition observed at approximately 510 nm revealed that there was a qualitative electronic coupling between metal centers. The coordination of the Ru2+ transition metal center lowers the energy of the pi*terpy orbitals, causing this transition.     

Voltammetry and in situ scanning tunnelling spectroscopy of osmium, iron, and ruthenium complexes of 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine covalently linked to Au(111)-electrodes

We have studied self-assembled molecular monolayers (SAMs) of complexes between Os(II)/(III), Fe(II)/(III), and Ru(II)/(III) and a 2,2',6',2'-terpyridine (terpy) derivative linked to Au(111)-electrode surfaces via a 6-acetylthiohexyloxy substituent at the 4'-position of terpy. The complexes were prepared in situ by first linking the terpy ligand to the surface via the S-atom, followed by addition of suitable metal compounds. The metal-terpy SAMs were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), and in situ scanning tunnelling microscopy with full electrochemical potential control of substrate and tip (in situ STM). Sharp CV peaks were observed for the Os- and Fe complexes, with interfacial electrochemical electron transfer rate constants of 6-50 s(-1). Well-defined but significantly broader peaks (up to 300 mV) were observed for the Ru-complex. Addition of 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) towards completion of the metal coordination spheres induced voltammetric sharpening. In situ STM images of single molecular scale strong structural features were observed for the osmium and iron complexes. As expected from the voltammetric patterns, the surface coverage was by far the highest for the Ru-complex which was therefore selected for scanning tunnelling spectroscopy. These correlations displayed a strong peak around the equilibrium potential with systematic shifts with increasing bias voltage, as expected for a sequential two-step in situ ET mechanism.     

Synthesis and computational studies of Mg complexes supported by 2,2':6,2'-terpyridine ligands

The reactions of the substituted 2,2':6,2'-terpyridine ligands, 4'-mesityl-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (mesitylterpy) (1a), 4,4',4'-tri-tert-butyl-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (tri-(t)Buterpy) (1b) and 4'-phenyl-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (phenylterpy) (1c) with Grignard reagents were investigated. When half an equivalent of mesitylterpy or tri-(t)Buterpy were treated with MeMgBr in diethyl ether, the only products were (R-terpy)MgBr(2) (R = mesityl (5a), or tri-(t)Bu (5b)) and Me(2)Mg and a similar reaction was observed in THF. Compounds 5a and 5b were characterized by X-ray crystallography. Changing the Grignard reagent to PhMgBr also generated 5a and 5b along with Ph(2)Mg, while the reaction between MeMgCl or PhMgCl and 1a or 1b generated (R-terpy)MgCl(2) (R = mesityl (6a), or tri-(t)Bu (6b)) and either Me(2)Mg or Ph(2)Mg, respectively. The products from reactions between phenylterpy (1c) and Grignard reagents were highly insoluble and could not be fully characterized but appeared to be the same as those from reactions with 1a and 1b. In contrast to other studies using tridentate nitrogen ligands, which formed either mixed halide alkyl species or dihalide and bis(alkyl) species depending on whether the Grignard reagent was reacted with the ligand in diethyl ether or THF, the formation of mixed halide, alkyl complexes of the type (R-terpy)MgR'X (R' = Me or Ph; X = Cl or Br) or dialkyl species such as (R-terpy)MgR'(2) (R' = Me or Ph) was not observed here, regardless of the reaction conditions. DFT studies were performed to complement the experimental studies. The experimental results could not be accurately reproduced unless π-stacking effects associated with free terpyridine were included in the model. When these effects were included, the calculations were consistent with the experimental results which indicated that the formation of the terpy Mg dihalide species and R'(2)Mg (R' = Me or Ph) is thermodynamically preferred over the formation of mixed alkyl halide Mg species. This is proposed to be due to the increased steric bulk of the terpy ligand in the coordination plane, compared with other tridentate nitrogen donors.     

Electrochemical and luminescent properties of new mononuclear ruthenium(II) and binuclear iridium(III)-ruthenium(II) terpyridine complexes.

Hexafluorophosphate salts of mononuclear complexes [Ru(II)Cl(L)(terpy)]+ (L = dmbpy (1); dpbpy (2), sambpy (3), and dpp (7), and binuclear complexes [Ru(II)2Cl2(dpp)(terpy)2]2+ (8) and [Ir(III)Ru(II)Cl2(dpp)(terpy)2]3+ (9) were prepared and characterized. Abbreviations of the ligands are bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, dmbpy = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine, dpbpy = 4,4'-diphenyl-2,2'-bipyridine, dpp = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine, sambpy = 4,4'-bis((S)-(+)-alpha-1-phenylethylamido)-2,2'-bipyridine, and terpy = 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine. The absorption spectra of 8 and 9 are dominated by ligand-centered bands in the UV region and by metal-to-ligand charge-transfer bands in the visible region. The details of their spectroscopic and electrochemical properties were investigated. In both binuclear complexes, it has been found that the HOMO is based on the Ru metal, and LUMO is dpp-based. [Ir(III)Ru(II)Cl2(dpp)(terpy)2]3+, indicating intense emission at room temperature, and a lifetime of 154 ns. The long lifetime of this bimetallic chromophore makes it a useful component in the design of supramolecular complexes.     

Bis(tridentate) Ruthenium-Terpyridine Complexes Featuring Microsecond Excited-State Lifetimes

A series of heteroleptic bis(tridentate) ruthenium(II) complexes, each bearing a substituted 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (terpy) ligand, is characterized by room temperature microsecond excited-state lifetimes. This observation is a consequence of the strongly σ-donating and weakly π-accepting tridentate carbene ligand, 2',6'-bis(1-mesityl-3-methyl-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl-5-idene)pyridine (C(∧)N(∧)C), adjacent to the terpy maintaining a large separation between the ligand field and metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) states while also preserving a large (3)MLCT energy. The observed lifetimes are the highest documented lifetimes for unimolecular ruthenium(II) complexes and are four orders in magnitude higher than that associated with [Ru(terpy)(2)](2+).     

Synthesis, structural features, absorption spectra, redox behaviour and luminescence properties of ruthenium(ii) rack-type dinuclear complexes with ditopic, hydrazone-based ligands

The isomeric bis(tridentate) hydrazone ligand strands 1 a-c react with [Ru(terpy)Cl3] (terpy=2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) to give dinuclear rack-type compounds 2 a-c, which were characterised by several techniques, including X-ray crystallography and NMR methods. The absorption spectra, redox behaviour and luminescence properties (both in fluid solution at room temperature and in rigid matrix at 77 K) of the ligand strands 1 a-c and of the metal complexes 2 a-c have been studied. Compounds 1 a-c exhibit absorption spectra dominated by intense pi-pi* bands, which, in the case of 1 b and 1 c, extend within the visible region, while the absorption spectra of the rack-type complexes 2 a-c show intense bands both the in the UV region, due to spin-allowed ligand-centred (LC) transitions, and in the visible, due to spin-allowed metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) transitions. The energy position of these bands strongly depends on the ligand strand: in the case of 2 a, the lowest energy MLCT band is around 470 nm, while in 2 b and 2 c, it lies beyond 600 nm. Ligands 1 a-c undergo oxidation processes that involve orbitals based mainly on the CH3--N--N== fragments. The complexes 2 a-c undergo reversible metal-centred oxidation, while reductions involve the hydrazone-based ligands: in 2 b and 2 c, the bridging ligand is reduced twice and in 2 a once before reduction of the peripheral terpy ligands takes place. Ligands 1 a-c exhibit luminescence from the lowest-lying 1pi-pi* level. Only for complex 2 a does emission occur; this may be attributed to a 3MLCT state involving the bridging ligand. Taken together, the results clearly indicate that the structural variations introduced translate into interesting differences in the spectroscopic, luminescence and redox properties of the ligand strands as well as of the rack-type metal complexes.     

Ruthenium(II) complexes with improved photophysical properties based on planar 4'-(2-pyrimidinyl)-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine ligands

A series of new tridentate polypyridine ligands, made of terpyridine chelating subunits connected to various substituted 2-pyrimidinyl groups, and their homoleptic and heteroleptic Ru(II) complexes have been prepared and characterized. The new metal complexes have general formulas [(R-pm-tpy)Ru(tpy)]2+ and [Ru(tpy-pm-R)2]2+ (tpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine; R-pm-tpy = 4'-(2-pyrimidinyl)-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine with R = H, methyl, phenyl, perfluorophenyl, chloride, and cyanide). Two of the new metal complexes have also been characterized by X-ray analysis. In all the R-pm-tpy ligands, the pyrimidinyl and terpyridyl groups are coplanar, allowing an extended delocalization of acceptor orbital of the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) excited state. The absorption spectra, redox behavior, and luminescence properties of the new Ru(II) complexes have been investigated. In particular, the photophysical properties of these species are significantly better compared to those of [Ru(tpy)2]2+ and well comparable with those of the best emitters of Ru(II) polypyridine family containing tridentate ligands. Reasons for the improved photophysical properties lie at the same time in an enhanced MLCT-MC (MC = metal centered) energy gap and in a reduced difference between the minima of the excited and ground states potential energy surfaces. The enhanced MLCT-MC energy gap leads to diminished efficiency of the thermally activated pathway for the radiationless process, whereas the similarity in ground and excited-state geometries causes reduced Franck Condon factors for the direct radiationless decay from the MLCT state to the ground state of the new complexes in comparison with [Ru(tpy)2]2+ and similar species.     

cis-[Ru(2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine)(DMSO)Cl(2)]: useful precursor for the synthesis of heteroleptic terpyridine complexes under mild conditions

[Ru(II)(terpy)(DMSO)Cl(2)] complexes were synthesized as a 5/1 mixture of cis and trans isomers, and their reactivities with CO and with substituted 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine (terpy) moieties have been investigated. The structure of a trans isomer and its CO adduct have been unambiguously assigned by spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The [Ru(terpy)(terpy-Br)](2+) complex prepared either from the cis-[Ru(II)(terpy)(DMSO)Cl(2)] or from the cis-[Ru(II)(terpy-Br)(DMSO)Cl(2)] precursor appeared to be reactive in cross-coupling reactions promoted by low-valent palladium(0) and is an attractive target for the stepwise synthesis of polynuclear complexes bearing vacant coordination sites (terpy-Br for 4'-bromo-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine). Several bipyridine, phenanthroline, and bipyrimidine complexes were prepared this way and their optical and redox properties determined and discussed.     

In situ selective N-alkylation of pendant pyridyl functionality in mixed-valence copper complexes with methanol and copper(II) bromide

The reactions of CuBr(2) with pyridyl 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine ligands in methanol yielded four copper complexes under solvothermal conditions. The self-assembly processes were accompanied by designing bitopic precursor ligands and increasing the stoichiometric metal-ligand ratio. In the four resulting complexes, the pendant pyridyl groups of pyridylterpyridine were selectively in situ N-methylated and yielded the 4'-(N-methylpyridinium)-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine cations, including the 2-position pyridyl group which is difficult to be N-alkylated due to the steric problem. Partial divalent copper atoms were reduced to cuprous ones in the solvothermal reactions, which made the mixed-valence copper atoms coexist in each compound. The mixed-valence complexes have a varied dimensionality (from 2D to 0D) and the Cu(I)Br cluster, which can be controlled by changing the metal-ligand ratio. Theoretical studies show that the nucleophilic attack of the nitrogen atom in the pendant pyridyl is more facile than others of terpyridine. A possible mechanism was also proposed.     

Electrochemical and phosphorescent properties of new mixed-ligand Ir(II) complexes coordinated with both terpyridine and various bipyridine derivatives.

Seven useful mixed-ligand complexes in the form of [Ir(terpy)(L)Cl]2+ were prepared and their spectroscopic and electrochemical properties were investigated. The ligands used were terpy = 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine, L = 2,2'-bipyridine, 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine, 4,4'-diphenyl-2,2'-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline, 5-phenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine. Synthetic methods were developed by a sequential ligand-replacement which occurred in the reaction vessel using a microwave oven. All complexes showed that LUMOs are based on the pi-system contribution of the terpyridine ligand for [Ir(terpy)(bpy)Cl]2+, [Ir(terpy)(dmbpy)Cl]2+, [Ir(terpy)(dpbpy)Cl]2+, [Ir(terpy)(phen)Cl]2+, [Ir(terpy)(dpphen)Cl]2+ and [Ir(terpy)(phphen)Cl]2+. On the other hand, the LUMO in the [Ir(terpy)(bppz)Cl]2+ complex is localized on the pi-system of the bppz ligand, whereas the HOMOs in the iridium complexes are localized on the terpyridine ligand. It was found that Ir(terpy)(L)Cl emits in a fluid solution at room temperature. The ancillary ligands, such as terpy and bpy, have been explored to extend the lifetime of the triplet 3(pi-pi') excited states of Ir(III) terpyridine complexes. Ir(III) terpyridine units with an electron donor (dmbpy) or electron acceptor substituents (terpy, dpbpy, phphen, dpphen and bppz) are found to decrease the energy of the 3LC states for use as photosensitizer molecular components in supramolecular devices. The spectroscopic and electrochemical details are also reported herein.     

Mononuclear iron(III) complexes of 3N ligands in organized assemblies: spectral and redox properties and attainment of regioselective extradiol dioxygenase activity

Four octahedral iron(III) complexes of the type [Fe(L)Cl(3)], where L is a tridentate 3N ligand like N,N-bis(pyrid-2-ylmethyl)amine (bpa, L1), N,N-bis(benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)amine (bba, L2), 1,4,7-triazacyclononane (tacn, L3) and 2,2';6',2'-terpyridine (terpy, L4), have been isolated and their catechol dioxygenase activity investigated in dichloromethane, water and different aqueous micellar media. The positions of both the catecholato-to-iron(III) LMCT bands observed for the DBC(2-) (H(2)DBC = 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol) adducts reveal that the adducts are present as cationic [Fe(L)(DBC)(H(2)O)](+) species, which interact strongly with anionic SDS micelles and dock themselves on the anionic micellar surface, and that they exist in the aqueous phase in CTAB and TX 100 micelles. The Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox potentials of the complexes throw light on the Lewis acidity of the iron(III) center as modified by the ligand donor atoms and hence the interaction of the complexes with different micelles. The DBSQ/DBC(2-) redox potentials in SDS micellar media are more positive than those in aqueous solution confirming the presence of the aqua species [Fe(L)(DBC)(H(2)O)](+). The DBC(2-) adducts of the iron(III) complexes of bpa, bba and tacn ligands, all with facial coordination, elicit extradiol (E) cleavage to different extents while the adduct of the terpy complex with meridional coordination of the ligand shows always intradiol (I) cleavage. It is remarkable that the bpa complex shows the highest yield of extradiol product and high product selectivity in aqueous SDS solution (E, 84.0%; E/I, 61.0?:?1) and in SDS?:?n-hexane reverse micellar medium (E, 93.7%) illustrating that a vacant or solvent coordinated site is essential for observing extradiol cleavage. Interestingly, the rates of dioxygenase reactions in aqueous and aqueous micellar solutions are significantly higher than those in non-aqueous solvents. Also, they diminish in the order, SDS > TX-100 > CTAB, illustrating the facile substitution of coordinated water molecule by molecular oxygen in [Fe(L)(DBC)(H(2)O)](+) bound to anionic SDS micelles.     

Tuning the gas phase redox properties of copper(II) ternary complexes of terpyridines to control the formation of nucleobase radical cations

Electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) of ternary copper(II) complexes of [Cu(terpyX)(M)]2+ (where terpyX = is a substituted 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine ligand; M = the nucleobases: adenine, guanine, thymine and cytosine) was examined as a means of forming radical cations of nucleobases in the gas phase. The following substituents were examined: 4'-NMe2-2,2':6',6'-terpyridine; 4'-OH-2,2':6',6'-terpyridine; 4'-F-2,2':6',6'-terpyridine; 2,2':6',6'-terpyridine; 4'-Cl-2,2':6',6'-terpyridine; 4'-Br-2,2':6',6'-terpyridine; 4'-CO2H-2,2':6',6'-terpyridine; 4'-NO2-2,2':6',6'-terpyridine and 6,6'-dibromo-2',2:6',2'-terpyridine. Each of the ternary complexes [Cu(terpyX)(M)]2+ was mass selected and subjected to collision induced dissociation (CID) in a quadrupole ion trap. The types of fragmentation reactions observed for these complexes depend on the nature of the substituent on the terpyridine ligand, while the yields of the radical cations of the nucleobases follow the order of their ionization energies (IEs): G (lowest IE) > A > C > T (highest IE). In general, radical cation formation is favoured for electron withdrawing substituents (e.g. NO2) while loss of the neutral nucleobase is favoured for electron donating substituents (e.g. NMe2). Loss of the protonated nucleobase is a major fragmentation pathway for the OH substituted terpyridine system, consistent with its ability to bind to a metal centre as a deprotonated ligand. Crystal structure determinations of (6,6'-dibromo-2',2:6',2'-terpyridine)bis(nitrato)copper(II) and diaqua(4'-oxo-2,2':6',6'-terpyridine)copper(II) nitrate monohydrate were performed and correlated with the ESI results.     

Light-induced geometrical changes in acyclic ruthenium(II) complexes and their ruthena-macrocyclic analogues

The two ligands 1 (4'-(3-anisylphenyl)-2,2';6',2' '-terpyridine) and 2 (2-mesityl-8-anisyl-1,10-phenanthroline) (Scheme 2) were synthesized and coordinated to ruthenium. The corresponding complexes Ru(1)(2)(L)n+, where L = Cl-, CH3CN, or C5H5N, have been fully characterized. Notably, the hindering mesityl group of the phenanthroline ligand was shown to lie opposite to the monodentate ligand L both in solution and in the solid state. Upon irradiation in acetonitrile or pyridine, quantitative isomerization of the complex occurred, which consisted of a 90 degrees rotation of the bidentate chelate. In the new isomers the mesityl group was shown to pi stack to the coordinated monodentate ligand with the anisyl group of the phen (1,10-phenanthroline) lying on the other side of the ruthenium atom. The back reaction was performed by heating the photochemical isomers of the complexes in DMSO and exchanging the DMSO with chloride anion, acetonitrile, or pyridine. The stability of the ruthenium(II)-pyridine bond was used in order to inscribe the Ru(terpy)(phen) motif in a molecular ring. Functionalization of the ligands and subsequent cyclization reaction on the complex were performed on the two isomers of Ru(1)(2)(C5H5N)2+. Four macrocyclic complexes including the Ru(terpy)(phen)(py)n+ moiety were obtained and characterized. A (CH2)18 alkane chain or polyethylene glycol chain formed the flexible part of the ruthena-macrocycles. Upon visible light irradiation a dramatic geometrical changeover of the cyclic complex took place, which could be reversed thermally.     

Terpyridine- and bipyridine-based ruthenium complexes as catalysts for the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction

We report the successful use of Ru(II)(terpy)(2) (1, terpy = 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) as a catalyst in the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) oscillating chemical reaction. We also examine several additional Ru(II) complexes, Ru(II)(bipy)(2)(L')(2) (2, L' = 4-pyridinecarboxylic acid; bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine) and Ru(II)(bipy)(2)(L') (3, L' = 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipy; 4, L' = N-allyl-4'-methyl-[2,2'-bipy]-4-carboxamide; 5, L' = bipy), for catalyzing the BZ reaction. While 2 is unable to trigger BZ oscillations, probably because of the rapid loss of L' in a BZ solution, the other bipyridine-based Ru(II)-complexes can catalyze the BZ reaction, although their catalytic activity is adversely affected by slow ligand substitution in a BZ solution. Nevertheless, the successfully tested Ru(II)(terpy)(2) and Ru(II)(bipy)(2)(L') catalysts may provide useful building blocks for complex functional macromolecules.     

Relative binding energies of gas-phase pyridyl ligand/metal complexes by energy-variable collisionally activated dissociation in a quadrupole ion trap

The relative binding energies of a series of pyridyl ligand/metal complexes of the type [M(I)L(2)](+) and [M(II)L(3)](2+) are investigated by using energy-variable collisionally activated dissociation in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. The pyridyl ligands include 1,10-phenanthroline and various alkylated analogues, 2,2'-bipyridine, 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine, and 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine, and the metal ions include cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, calcium, magnesium, lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium. The effect of the ionic size and electronic nature of the metal ion and the polarizability and degree of preorganization of the pyridyl ligands on the threshold activation voltages, and thus the relative binding energies of the complexes, are evaluated. Correlations are found between the binding constants of [M(II)L(3)](2+) complexes in aqueous solution and the threshold activation voltages of the analogous gas-phase complexes determined by collisionally activated dissociation.