Photophysical Properties and Photochemical Behaviour of Ruthenium(II) complexes containing the 2,2′-bipyridine and 4,4′-diphenyl-2,2′-bipyridine ligands

The temperature dependence of the emission lifetime of the series of complexes Ru(bpy)_n(4,4′-dpb) (bpy = 2,2′bipyridine, 4,4′-dpb = 4,4′-diphenyl-2,2′-bipyridine) has been studied in propionitrile/butyronitrile (4:5 v/v) solutions in the range 90–293 K. The obtained photophysical parameters show that the energy separation between the metal-to-ligand charge tranfer (³MLCT) emitting level and the photoreactive metal-centered (³MC) level changes across the series (ΔE = 3960, 4100, 4300, and 4700 cm^?1 for Ru(bpy)), Ru(bpy)2(4,4′-dpb)²⁺, Ru(bpy)(4,4′-dpb), and Ru(4,4′-dpb), respectively, where ΔE is the energy separation between the minimum of the ³MLCT potential curve and ³MLCT – ³MC crossing point. Comparison between spectral and electrochemical data indicated that the changes in ΔE are due to stabilization of the MLCT levels in complexes containing 4,4′-dpb with respect to Ru(bpy)²⁺₃. The photochemical data for the same complexes (as I^? salts) have been obtained in CH₂Cl₂ in the presence of 0.01M Cl^? upon irradiation at 462 nm. The complexes containing 4,4′-dpb are more photostable than Ru(bpy). Comparison between the data for thermal population of the ³MC photoreactive state and those for photochemistry indicated that the overall photochemical process is governed by (i) a thermal redistribution between the emitting and photoreactive excited states, and (ii) mechanistic factors, likely related to the size of the detaching ligand.     

Complex formation equilibria of L-Amino-Acid amides with copper(II) in aqueous solution

Protonation and Cu(II) complexation equilibria of L -phenyhilaninamide, N²-methyl-L-phenylalaninamide, N², N²-dimethyl-L-phenylalaninamide, L -valinamide, and L -prolinamide have been studied by potentiometry in aqueous solution. The formation constants of the species observed, CuL²⁺, CuL, CuLH, CuL₂H and CuL₂H_?2, are discussed in relation to the structures of the ligands. Possible structures of bisamidato complexes are proposed on the ground of VIS and CD spectra. Since Cu(II) complexes of the present ligands (pH range 6–8) perform chiral resolution of dansyl- and unmodified amino acids in HPLC (reversed phase), it is relevant for the investigation of the resolution mechanism to know which are the species potentially involved in the recognition process.     

Stability,Formation and Dissociation Kinetics of the Pentacoordinate Ni2+ and CO2+ Complexes with 1,5-Diazacyclooctane-N,N′-diacetic Acid

The stability constants of the Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺ complexes with 1,5-diazacyclooctane-N,N′-diacetic acid (H₂DACODA) have been determined potentiometrically in 0.5M KNO₃ at 25°. Only M(DACODA) and M(DACODA)OH^? were observed. In addition the formation and dissociation kinetics of the pentacoordinate complexes M(DACODA) has been studied in aqueous solution using a stopped-flow technique. Formation follows the rate law v_f = k_f [M²⁺] [HDACODA^?]/[H⁺], which can be interpreted as a bimolecular process either between M²⁺ and DACODA^2? (k) or between MOH⁺ and HDACODA^? (k). The second order rate constants k are much higher than those expected from water exchange and can only be explained by a strong internal conjugate base effect. In the limiting case, however, this is equivalent to the second possible explanation, which assumes MOH⁺ and HDACODA^? as reactive species. The dissociation rate is given by v_d = (k^ML + k [H⁺]) · [M(DACODA)].     

Zur Stabilität der Metallkomplexe von Methantriessigsäure und cis,cis-1,3,5-Cyclohexantricarbonsäure

The stabilities of the Mn²⁺-, Co²⁺-, Ni²⁺-, Cu²⁺- and Zn²⁺-complexes with 2-(carboxymethyl)glutaric acid ( 2 ) and cis,cis-1,3,5-cyclohexanetricarboxylic acid ( 3 ) were measured potentiometrically at 25° and I = 0.5 (KNO₃). Beside the complexes ML^? protonated species MLH and MLH are also formed. Their stability constants are given in Table 1. A comparison between the stabilities of 2 or 3 and those of acetate, as a model for a monocarboxylate, or succinate and glutarate, as examples for dicarboxylates, indicates that in all species only one carboxylate is strongly bound whereas the second and third ones are probably not. The observation that Δlog K₁ = log K ? log K as well as Δlog K₂ = log K ? log K are practically constants with values of 0.34 ± 0.05 and 0.49 ± 0.07, respectively, for both ligands and the five metal ions studied is also in line with the proposed monodentate structures of the complexes ML^?, MLH and MLH.     

Variable-Temperature and Variable-Pressure Kinetic and Equilibrium studies of formation and dissociation of [V(H2O)5NCS]2+

The kinetics of formation and dissociation of [V(H₂O)₅NCS]²⁺ have been studied, as a function of excess metal-ion concentration, temperature, and pressure, by the stopped-flow technique. The thermodynamic stability of the complex was also determined spectrophotometrically. The kinetic and equilibrium data were submitted to a combined analysis. The rate constants and activation parameters for the formation (f) and dissociation (r) of the complex are: k/M ^?1 · S^?1 = 126.4, k/s^?1 = 0.82; ΔH /kJ · mol^?1 = 49.1, ΔH/kJ · mol^?1 = 60.6; ΔS/ J·K^?1·mol^?1= ?39.8, ΔSJ·K^?1·mol^?1 = ?43.4; ΔV/cm³·mol^?1 = ?9.4, and ΔV/cm³ · mol^?1 =?17.9. The equilibrium constant for the formation of the monoisothiocynato complex is K²⁹⁸/M ^?1 = 152.9, and the enthalpy and entropy of reaction are ΔH⁰/kJ · mol^?1 = ? 11.4 and ΔS⁰/J. K^?1mol^?1 = +3.6. The reaction volume is ΔV⁰/cm³· mol^?1 = +8.5. The activation parameters for the complex-formation step are similar to those for the water exchange on [V(H₂O)₆]³⁺ obtained previously by NMR techniques. The activation volumes for the two processes are consistent with an associative interchange, I_a, mechanism.     

L'action de l'ammoniac sur l'oxyde cuivrique. et les hydroxo-complexes de cuivre (II)

Using a new mathematical treatment, the nature and stability constants of the simple and mixed complex-species of copper(II) with hydroxyde and ammonia as ligands have been determined. The solubility curves of CuO in heterogeneous equilibrium have been identified in function of pH only and in function of pH and pNH_3tot at 25° and unit ionic strength (NaClO₄). The predominent species in the relatively dilute system limited by the ionic strength are [Cu²⁺], [Cu(OH)₂], [Cu(OH)], [Cu(OH)], [Cu(NH₃)], [Cu(NH₃)], [Cu(NH₃)], [Cu(NH₃) (OH)⁺], [Cu(NH₃)₃(OH)⁺] and [Cu(NH₃)₂(OH)₂].     

Cuprous complexes and dioxygen. VIII. Steric factors controlling one- or two-electron reduction of O2 by cuprous complexes with substituted imidazoles

In aqueous acetonitrile (AN), Cu (I) forms the complexes Cu(AN)L⁺ and CuL with a series of substituted imidazoles (L). Stability constants logK of Cu(AN)⁺ + L ? Cu(AN)L⁺ and logβ₂ were near 5 and 12, resp., log units for all ligands. The rate of autoxidation is described by ?d[O₂]/dt=[CuL]²[O₂](k_a/(1+k_b[CuL]) + (k_c[L]+k_d)/([CuL] + k_e[Cu])), implying competition between one- or two-electron reduction of O₂. The value of k_c decreases from 5500M ^?2S ^?1 for unsubstituted imidazole to about 40M ^?2S ^?1 for 2-methylimidazole or 1,2-dimethyl-imidazole and essentially zero for the corresponding 2-ethyl-derivatives. On the other hand, k_a and k_b are much less influenced by the nature of the ligands, all values being near 5 · 10⁴M ^?2S ^?1 and 10³M ^?1, respectively, for the complexes with the last four bases. Thus rather subtle sterical changes may strongly influence the relative importance of different pathways in the reduction of dioxygen by cuprous complexes.     

Conformations of the 10-membered Ring in 5, 10-Secosteroids. II. (E)-3α-Acetoxy-5, 10-seco-1 (10)-cholesten-5-one and (E)-5, 10-seco-1 (10)-cholestene-3, 5-dione

(E)-3α-Acetoxy-5, 10-seco-1(10)-cholesten-5-one ( 3 ) was synthesized by fragmentation of 3α-acetoxy-5α-cholestan-5-ol ( 1 ) using the photochemical version [3] of the lead tetraacetate reaction [4], and transformed into the corresponding 3-oxo-compound ( 5 ). Two conformations ( A and B ) were deduced for the 10-membered ring of 3 by analysis of the ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR. spectra in toluene. The major conformation ( A ) corresponds to that found in the solid state by X-ray analysis. According to its NMR. spectra in toluene, the medium-sized ring of the diketone 5 exists also predominantly in two conformations, the major one being analogous to A (the solid-state conformation of the 3β-acetoxy isomer ( 9 ) [1]) and the minor one to A (see above). The stereochemistry of the acidcatalyzed and thermal cyclisations of 3 as well as of the corresponding 5-oxime is discussed in terms of conformational factors.     

Ternäre Komplexe in Lösung IV. Einfluss von 2,2′-Bipyridyl auf Stabilität und Acidität des Cu2+-Adenosin-5′-monophosphat-N(1)-oxid-1:1-Komplexes

The ternary Cu²⁺?2,2′-bipyridyl-adenosine-5′-monophosphate-N(1)-oxide complex was investigated and compared with the binary Cu²⁺-adenosine-5′-monophosphate-N(1)-oxide complex (I) (cf. [2]). In both complexes Cu²⁺ is bound to the o-amino-N-oxide group of adenosine-5′-monophosphate-N(1)-oxide (HL). The stabilities of the complexes monoprotonated at the phosphate group are of the same order: log K = 11,20, and log K = 11,19. The acidity constants for the deprolonation of the phosphate group in these complexes are slightly different (pK = 5,55, and pK = 5,88), but as expected both values are lower than the corresponding value pK = 6,12 of the ligand.     

L'action de l'ammoniac sur l'hydroxyde de cadmium et la stabilité des complexes en milieu aqueux

The solubility of precipitated Cd(OH)₂ was determined at 25°C in 1 M NaClO₄, as a function of pH and of the ammonia content of the solutions. Formation constants were obtained for the following hydroxo, ammine and hydroxo-ammine complexes: CdOH⁺, Cd(OH)₂, Cd(OH), CdNH, Cd(NH₃), Cd(NH₃), Cd(NH₃) and Cd(OH)₂NH₃. The solubility product of the hydroxide was also calculated. The presence of polynuclear species was investigated by titrimetric determinations of the hydrogen ion concentration at constant metal concentration.     

Molecular Recognition in Anion Coordination Chemistry. Structure,Binding Constants and Receptor-Substrate Complementarity of a Series of Anion Cryptates of a Macrobicyclic Receptor Molecule

The crystal structures of four anion cryptates [X^? ? BT -6H⁺] formed by the protonated macrobicyclic receptor BT -6H⁺ with F^?, Cl^?, Br^? and N have been determined. They provide a homogeneous series of anion coordination patterns with the same ligand. The small F^?-ion is tetracoordinated, while Cl^? and Br^? are bound in an octahedron of H-bonds. The non-complementarity between these spherical anions and the ellipsoïdal cavity of BT -6H⁺ is reflected in ligand distortions. Structural complementarity is achieved for the linear triatomic substrate N, which is bound by two pyramidal arrays of three H-bonds, each interacting with a terminal N-atom of N. The formation constants of the complexes formed by BT -6H⁺ with a variety of anions (halides, N, NO, carboxylates, SO, HPO, AMP^2?, ADP^3?, ATP^4?, P₂O) have been determined. Very strong complexations are found, as well as marked electrostatic and structural effects on stability and selectivity; in particular the binding of F^?, Cl^?, Br^?, and N may be analyzed in terms of the crystal structure data. The cryptand BT -6H⁺ is a molecular receptor containing an ellipsoïdal recognition site for linear triatomic substrates of size compatible with the size of the molecular cacity. Further developments of various aspects of anion coordination chemistry are considered.     

Metal complexes with macrocyclic ligands. Part XX. Influence of coordinated ligands onto the complexation rate of Ni2+ with 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane

The kinetics of the reaction between 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (Cy) and Ni²⁺ in the presence of series of ligands L = fluoride, acetate, glycolate, oxalate, malonate, succinate, methanetriacetate, 1,3,5-cyclohexanetriacetate, tricarballylate, picolinate, glycinate, iminodiacetate, nitrilotriacetate. N,N′ -ethylenediiminodiacetate, ammonia, pyridine, ethylenediamine, 1,3-propanediamine and diethylenetriamine were studied by pH-static and spectrophotometric methods at 25° and I = 0.5. By analysis of the log k/log [L] and/or log k/pH profiles the resolved bimolecular rate constants K (Table 3) were determined using a non-linear least-square fitting procedure. Practically for all systems the rate constant K, describing the reaction between the 1:1 Ni²⁺ complex and the monoprotonated form of the macrocycle, was obtained. In some cases, however, also K and K were found. Since the experimental conditions were choosen so that NiL was mainly formed, the reactivity of NiL₂ was generally not measurable. The effect of the number of coordinated donor groups in NiL and of the charge of NiL on K is discussed. Both effects seem to indicate that for the reaction between NiL and CyH⁺ first bond formation is not the rate-determining step.     

Photoelectrochemistry with Colloidal Semiconductors; Laser Studies of Halide Oxidation in Colloidal Dispersions of TiO2 and α-Fe2O3

Aqueous sols of TiO₂ (anatase, particle radius 25 Å) were excited with (347.1 nm)-laser light and the reaction of valence-band holes with halide ions (X = I^?, Br^?, Cl^?) was investigated. Hole transfer takes place within the duration of the (10 ns)-laser pulse and results in the formation of anion radicals according to the sequence: The quantum yield of X increases in the order Cl < Br < I, attaining 0.8 for I at pH 1. It is affected by pH, halide concentration and the presence of a protective agent for the sol. RuO₂ deposited onto TiO₂ enhances markedly Cl and Br -formation, but has no effect on the yield of I. Laser-photolysis investigation of halide oxidation were also carried out with colloidal Fe₂O₃ (particle radius 600 Å). For I_2?formation, the quantum yield exceeds 0.9 indicating almost quantitative hole scavenging by iodide.     

Hydrogen Generation by Visible Light Irradiation of Aqueous Solutions of Metal Complexes. An approach to the photochemical conversion and storage of solar energy

We describe a photochemical system for the generation of hydrogen by water reduction under visible light or sunlight irradiation of aqueous solutions containing the following components: a photosensitizer, the Ru (bipy) complex, for visible light absorption; a relay species, the Rh (bipy) complex, which mediates water reduction by intermediate storage of electrons via a reduced state; an electron donor, triethanolamine (TEOA) which provides the electrons for the reduction process and a redox catalyst, colloïdal platinum, which facilitates hydrogen formation. The conditions for efficient hydrogen production and the influence of the concentration of the components have been investigated; the metal complexes act as catalysts with high turnover numbers; excess bipyridine facilitates the reaction. The process contains two catalytic cycles: a ruthenium cycle and a rhodium cycle. The Ru cycle involves oxidative quenching of the *Ru(bipy) excited state by Rh(bipy) forming Ru(bipy) which is converted back to Ru(bipy) by oxidation of the electron donor TEOA, which is thus consumed. The Rh cycle comprises a complicated set of transformations of the initial Rh(bipy) complex. The reduced rhodium complex formed in the quenching process undergoes a series of transformations involving the Rh(bipy) complex and hydridorhodium-bipyridine species, from which hydrogen is generated by reaction with the protons of water. In view of the storage of two electrons in the reduced rhodium species, the process is formally a dielectronic water reduction. The properties and eventual participation of [Rh(III)(bipy)₂LL′]ⁿ⁺(L,L′ = H₂O, OH^?) species are investigated. It is concluded that at neutral pH in presence of excess bipyridine, the cycle involving regeneration of the Rh(bipy) complex is predominant. A number of experiments have been performed with modified systems. Hydrogen evolution is observed with other photosensitizers (like proflavin), other relay species (like Rh(dimethylbipy) or Co(II)-bipyridine complexes), other donor species, or in absence of the platinum catalyst. It also occurs in absence of photosensitizer by sunlight of UV. irradiation of Rh(bipy) or by visible light irradiation of iridium (III)-bibyridine complexes. These systems deserve further investigations. The present photochemical hydrogen generating system represents the reductive component of a complete water splitting process. Its role in solar energy conversion and in photochemical fuel production is discussed.     

Variable-Temperature and Variable-Pressure 17O-NMR Study of Water Exchange of Hexaaquaaluminium(III)

The transverse relaxation rate of H₂O in Al(H₂O) has been measured as a function of temperature (255 to 417 K) and pressure (up to 220 MPa) using the ¹⁷O-NMR line-broadening technique, in the presence of Mn(II) as a relaxation agent. At high temperatures the relaxation rate is governed by chemical exchange with bulk H₂O, whereas at low temperatures quadrupolar relaxation is prevailing. Low-temperature fast-injection ¹⁷O-NMR was used to extend the accessible kinetic domain. The samples studied contained Al³⁺ (0.5 m), Mn²⁺ (0.2–0.5 m), H ⁺ (0.2–3.1 m) and ¹⁷O-enriched (20–40%) H₂O. Non-coordinating perchlorate was used as counter ion. The following H₂O exchange parameters were obtained: k = (1.29 ± 0.04) s⁻¹, ΔH* = (84.7 ± 0.3) kJ mol⁻¹, ΔS* = +(41.6 ± 0.9) J K ⁻¹ mol⁻¹, and ΔV = +(5.7 ± 0.2) cm³ mol⁻¹, indicating a dissociative interchange, I_d, mechanism. These results of H₂O exchange on Al(H₂O) are discussed together with the available complex-formation rate data and permit also the assignment of I_d mechanisms to these latter reactions.     

Chemistry of Superoxide Ion as Revealed by the Differential Oxidation of Arylpyruvates

Superoxide ion apparently reacts with acidic substrates via species such as O₂, HO₂, O, HO and H₂O₂. Arylpyruvates give arylacetates and arylaldehydes indicating competing nucleophilic and free radical oxidation. Benzaldehyde is further oxidized by free radical and nucleophilic dioxygen species giving benzoic acid. p-Hydroxybenzaldehyde gives the corresponding benzoic acid which is best accounted for by HO₂, since O and O₂ are without effect. Hydroquinone is also produced presumably by nucleophilic attack of HO. Replacement of the acidic hydrogen atoms by sodium changes the product distribution in accord with these findings.     

Oxygenation of Co(II) Complexes with Tripodal Ligands

The kinetics of O₂-uptake of five-coordinated Co²⁺/tren complexes (tren = 2,2′, 2″-tris(2-aminoethyl)amine) have been studied extensively. The kinetics of formation of (tren)Co(O₂, OH)Co(tren)³⁺ exhibits two steps. The rate law of O₂-addition, the first step, was of the form: rate = (k[H⁺] + kK_a)/([H⁺] + K_a) [Co(tren)²⁺][O₂]. Second-order rate constants k = 220 ± 19 M ^?1s^?1 and k = 1.8 ± .035 · 10³M ^?1s^?1 agreed well from O₂-uptake and (stopped-flow) spectrophotometric measurements. The protonation constant of the hydroxo complex obtained by equlibrium measurements (spectrophotometric and by pH-titration) in anaerobic conditions (pK_a = 10.03) agreed well with that derived from kinetic data (p K_a = 9.93); k and k are about a factor 100 smaller than those for the pseudooctahedral Co(trien) (H₂O). This and the fact that several other Co(II) complexes with five-coordinated geometry do not exhibit oxygen affinity led to the proposal that the oxygenation mechanism for Co²⁺/tren complexes involves fast preequilibria between Co(tren) (H₂O)²⁺ and Co(tren) (H₂O) and only the latter is assumed to be reactive. The enhanced rate at high pH is explained by rate determining H₂O-exchange in the O₂-addition step and the ability of coordinated OH^? to labilize the neighbouring H₂O. This mechanism is furthermore supported by the formation of one kinetically preferred isomer of the peroxo-bridged dicobalt(III) complex (O₂ cis to the tertiary N-atom) and the large negative activation entropy (?30 eu). The second step is the intramolecular bridging reaction: is independent of [Co(tren)²⁺] and [O₂] but exhibits a pH-dependence of the form k₃ = k′₃[H + ]/(K_a + [H⁺]); k_?3 ( = 5 · 10^?5 s^?1) was determined independently and from the two rate constants the equilibrium constant was calculated as ≈ 10⁵. The ligand combination as in Co(tren)²⁺ was shown to provide an excellent balance to form a reversible oxygen carrier; possible reasons for this are discussed.     

Cuprous Complexes and Dioxygen. Part 12.. Rate law and mechanism of the copper-catalyzed oxidation of ascorbic acid in aqueous acetonitrile

The copper-catalyzed oxidation of ascorbic acid (AscH₂) has been studied with a Clark electrode in aqueous MeCN. Cu^I or Cu^II may be equally used as the source of metal ion, without influence on the rate law. At sufficiently high [MeCN], the rate of the overall reaction is essentially given by the rate of Cu^I autoxidation: the reaction is of first order with respect to [Cu] and [O₂] and shows an inverse-square dependence on [MeCN] as observed for the autoxidation of Cu. The pH dependence is complicated by the combination of the intrinsic pH effect on autoxidation with an additional term in the rate law which is directly proportional to [AscH^?]. The latter term is explained by direct oxidation of the organic substrate by the primary dioxygen adduct of Cu^I, CuO. For [MeCN] < 0.7M , a gradual and pH-dependent transformation of this rate law and deviation from the first-order dependence on [O₂] is indicated.     

Metal complexes with macrocyclic ligands. XVI. Spectrophotometric and thermodynamic studies of solvents and unidentate ligands interaction with the pentacoordinate Co2+-, Ni2+- and Cu2+-complexes of 1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane

The interaction of solvents and of unidentate ligands such as N, SCN^?, OCN^? and OH^? with the Co²⁺-, Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺-complexes of 1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (TMC) have been studied by Spectrophotometric and calorimetric techniques. The spectra in different solvents (Table 2) show that the Ni²⁺- and probably also the Cu²⁺-complex with TMC exist as square planar or pentacoordinate species or as a mixture of both, depending on the donor properties of the solvent. The [Co(TMC)]²⁺-complex is pentacoordinate in all the solvents studied. Ternary complexes [M(TMC)X]ⁿ⁺ are also formed by the unidentate ligands X = N, OCN^?, OH^?, F^? and NH₃ and their stability constants have been determined. Interesting is the high selectivity of [Ni(TMC)]²⁺ towards the addition of a further donor (Table 3). Only small ligands such as those listed above form stable adducts, whereas the larger ones such as imidazole or pyridine do not. This is a consequence of the special structure of the complex and of the trans-I-(RSRS)- conformation of the ligand in these complexes. Since the four methyl groups are all on the side of the macrocycle to which the additional unidentate ligand binds, steric interaction between the four methyl groups and the larger ligands prevents the formation of the adducts. The calorimetric measurements show that the stability of the complexes [M(TMC)X]ⁿ⁺ is due to both an enthalpic and entropic contribution which differ in their magnitude (Table 4). This indicates that several antagonistic factors are important in determining the overall stability.     

Spectroscopic,Electrochemical, and Kinetic Characterization of New Ruthenium(II) Tris-chelates Containing Five-Membered Heterocyclic Moieties

Synthesis, redox, photophysical, and photochemical properties of Ru(NN) complexes NN = 2-((2′-pyridyl)thiazole (pyth), 2-(2′-pyrazyl)thiazole (pzth), 2,2′-bithiazole (bth), 5-(2′-pyridyl)-1,2,4-thiadiazole (pytda), 2-(2′-pyridyl)imidazole (pyim), 1-methyl-2-(2′-pyridyl)imidazole (Mepyim), and 2-(2′-pyridyl)oxazole (pyox)) are described. Oxidation potentials for the Ru^3+/2+ couples in MeCN varied from about 0.80 V to 1.60 V vs. NHE. Three reduction waves were observed in all the cases except for Ru(pyim) and Ru(Mepyim) complexes and asigned to the one-electron reduction of each bidentate ligand. Absorption spectra contained bands in the UV (280–325 nm) and VIS (437–481 nm) regions which have been assigned to ligand-centered π-π* and metal-to-ligand charge-transfer dπ-π* transitions, respectively. Emission spectra at 77 K were determined for all the complexes presenting maxima in the 580–650-nm region, with vibrational progression in some of them. Only pyth, pzth, bth, and pytda tris-chelates showed luminescence at room temperature in aqueous solution, with quantum yields ranging from 0.0013 to 0.0095 and excited-state lifetimes from 55 to 390 ns, as determined from pulsed laser techniques. Their E_0–0 spetroscopic energies have been estimated from emission wavelength maxima at 77 K which, in turn, have allowed calculation of excited-state redox potentials. A plot of E_0–0 vs. ΔE_1/2, where ΔE_1/2 = E_1/2(3+/2+) ? E_1/2(2+/+), was linear with a slope of ca. 1.1 and a correlation coefficient of 0.999, demonstrating an identical nature of the orbital involved in spectroscopic and electrochemical processes. Photochemical properties of Ru(NN) complexes have been tested using methyl viologen (MV²⁺) in Ar-purged aqueous solution at pH 5. Stern-Volmer treatment has led to the determination of bimolecular quenching constants (0.5 to 2 × 10⁹m^?1·s^?1) which parallel electron-transfer free-energy changes. Homogeneous back-reaction of primarily produced MV^+· and Ru(NN) has been measured resulting to be slightly higher than diffusion control and independent of ligand nature. Rate constants for the scavenging of Ru(NN) by added edta have been also determined (1.7 to 8.2 × 10⁸M^?1 · S^?1). Under such conditions, net production of MV^+· is attained with quantum yields varying from 0.003 to 0.038 (single-shot laser results).