Design and study of Bi[1,8]naphthyridine ligands as potential photooxidation mediators in Ru(II) polypyridyl aquo complexes

A series of 3,3'-polymethylene-bridged bi1,8]naphthyridine (binap) ligands, 3a-c, are complexed with Ru(II) to afford Ru(tpy)(3a-c)(H(2)O)](2+) where an uncomplexed nitrogen on 3a-c is situated so it can form a H-bond with the coordinated water. An additional complex involving Ru(4'-NMe(2)tpy)(3b)(H(2)O)](2+) is also prepared. X-ray analyses of the Ru(tpy)(3a,c)(H(2)O)](2+) complexes indicate well-organized H-bonds even when the binap is nonplanar. In an attempt to realize photooxidation, the effects of light, varying potential, and pH were examined. A Pourbaix diagram indicated that the oxidation potential decreased by approximately 0.5 V in the pH range of 1.9-11.6. The lowest-energy electronic absorption for the binap complexes involves the metal-to-ligand charge transfer to the binap ligand and is sensitive to ligand planarity. The absorbance shifted to a lower energy as the auxiliary ligand became a better donor (4'-NMe(2)tpy) or as the water was deprotonated. Acetonitrile was found to displace water most easily for the complex of 3c, where the ligand is the least planar. Despite promising features, photooxidation of the bound water was not observed.