Synthesis and Characterization of Ruthenium Complexes with Substituted Pyrazino[2,3‐f][1,10]‐phenanthroline (=Rppl; R=Me,COOH, COOMe)

A series of substituted pyrazino2,3‐f]1,10]‐phenanthroline (Rppl) ligands (with R=Me, COOH, COOMe) were synthetized (see 1 – 4 in Scheme 1). The ligands can be visualized as formed by a bipyridine and a quinoxaline fragment (see A and B ). Homoleptic Ru(R¹ppl)₃](PF₆)₂ and heteropleptic Ru(R¹ppl){(R²)₂bpy}₂](PF₆)₂ (R¹=H, Me, COOMe and R²=H, Me) metal complexes 5 – 7 and 8 – 13 , respectively, based on these ligands were also synthesized and characterized by conventional techniques (Schemes 2 and 3, resp.). In the heteroleptic complexes, the R¹‐ppl ligand reduces at a less‐negative potential than the bpy ligand, reflecting the acceptor property conferred by the quinoxaline moiety. The potentiality of some of these complexes as solar‐cell dyes is discussed.