Diimine-acetylide compounds of ruthenium: the structural and spectroscopic effects of oxidation

The reaction of Ru(Me(2)bipy)(PPh(3))(2)Cl(2) 1 with terminal alkynes HCCR in the presence of TlPF(6) leads to the formation of the vinylidene compounds Ru(Me(2)bipy)(PPh(3))(2)Cl(=C=CHR)]PF(6)] (2) (2a, R = Bu(t); 2b, R = p-C(6)H(4)-Me; 2c, R = Ph). These compounds decompose in oxygenated solution to form the carbonyl compound Ru(Me(2)bipy)(PPh(3))(2)Cl(CO)]PF(6)] (3), and may be deprotonated by K(2)CO(3) to give the ruthenium(II) terminal acetylide compounds Ru(Me(2)bipy)(PPh(3))(2)Cl(CC-R) (4) (4a, R = Bu(t); 4b, R = p-C(6)H(4)-Me; 4c, R = Ph). Cyclic voltammetry shows that 2a-c may also be reductively dehydrogenated to form 4a-c. 4a-c are readily oxidized to their ruthenium(III) analogues 4a](+)-4c](+), and the changes seen in their UV/visible spectra upon performing this oxidation are analyzed. These show that whereas the UV/visible spectra of 4a-c show MLCT bands from the ruthenium atom to the bipyridyl ligand, those of 4a](+)-4c](+) contain LMCT bands originating on the acetylide ligands. This is in agreement with the IR and ESR spectra of 4a](+)-4c](+). The X-ray crystal structures of the redox pair 4a and 4a]PF(6)()] have been determined, allowing the bonding within the metal-acetylide unit to be analyzed, and an attempt is made to determine Lever electrochemical parameters (E(L)) for the vinylidene and acetylide ligands seen herein. Room temperature luminescence measurements on 4a-c show that the compounds are not strongly emissive.