Role of the LUMO in determining redox stability for 2,3-dipyridylpyrazine and 2,3-dipyridylquinoxaline-bridged ruthenium(II) bimetallic complexes

Partially Solvated Dinuclear Ruthenium Compounds Bridged by Quinoxaline-Functionalized Ligands as Ru(II) Photocage Architectures for Low-Energy Light Absorption

Ruthenium compounds with coordinated photolabile molecules that can be selectively released by irradiation with a visible light source are finding increasing applications in photoactivated chemotherapy (PCT) as photocages. Earlier photocages based on mononuclear Ru(II) compounds lack absorption in the therapeutic window (λ > 600 nm). In previous work, we synthesized the first partially solvated tppz bridged (tppz= 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(pyridin-2-yl)pyrazine) dinuclear Ru(II) complex capable of photoinduced ligand exchange at both metal centers. To further explore the effect of the bridging ligand on Ru(II) photocage design, we used quinoxaline-functionalized bridging ligand platforms to prepare [{Ru^II(NCCH₃)₄}₂(μ-BL)](PF₆)₄[BL = dpq, 2,3-di(pyridin-2-yl)quinoxaline (1); BL = dpb, 2,3-di(pyridin-2-yl)benzo[g]quinoxaline (2)]. The compounds are capable of absorbing green light with tails extending beyond 650 nm which can be exploited for applications as PCT agents. Experimental results were additionally verified by DFT calculations. The use of two Ru(II) centers equipped with quinoxaline-based bridging ligands is a promising design strategy for the synthesis of a new family of dinuclear Ru(II) photocage prototypes with the ability to absorb low-energy visible light.

Ground- and Excited-State Electronic Structure of an Emissive Pyrazine-Bridged Ruthenium(II) Dinuclear Complex

The synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical, photophysical, and photochemical properties of the binuclear compounds [(Ru(H8-bpy)2)2((Metr)2Pz)](PF6)2 (1) and [(Ru(D8-bpy)2)2((Metr)2Pz)](PF6)2 (2), where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine and H2(Metr)2Pz is the planar ligand 2,5-bis(5'-methyl-4'H-[1,2,4]triaz-3'-yl)pyrazine, are reported. Electrochemical and spectro-electrochemical investigations indicate that the ground-state interaction between each metal center is predominantly electrostatic and in the mixed-valence form only a low level of ground-state delocalization is present. Resonance Raman, transient, and time-resolved spectroscopies enable a detailed assignment to be made of the excited-state photophysical properties of the complexes. Deuteriation is employed to both facilitate spectroscopic characterization and investigate the nature of the lowest excited states.

Characteristics and properties of metal-to-ligand charge-transfer excited states in 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine and 2,2'-bypyridine ruthenium complexes. Perturbation-theory-based correlations of optical absorption and emission parameters with electrochemistry and thermal kinetics and related Ab initio calculations

The absorption, emission, and infrared spectra, metal (Ru) and ligand (PP) half-wave potentials, and ab initio calculations on the ligands (PP) are compared for several [L(n)()Ru(PP)](2+) and [[L(n)Ru]dpp[RuL'(n)]](4+) complexes, where L(n) and L'(n) = (bpy)(2) or (NH(3))(4) and PP = 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy), 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine (dpp), 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)quinoxaline (dpq), or 2,3-bis(2pyridyl)benzoquinoxaline (dpb). The energy of the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) absorption maximum (hnu(max)) varies in nearly direct proportion to the difference between Ru(III)/Ru(II) and (PP)/(PP)(-) half-wave potentials, DeltaE(1/2), for the monometallic complexes but not for the bimetallic complexes. The MLCT spectra of [(NH(3))(4)Ru(dpp)](2+) exhibit three prominent visible-near-UV absorptions, compared to two for [(NH(3))(4)Ru(bpy)](2+), and are not easily reconciled with the MLCT spectra of [[(NH(3))(4)Ru]dpp[RuL(n)]](4+). The ab initio calculations indicate that the two lowest energy pi orbitals are not much different in energy in the PP ligands (they correlate with the degenerate pi orbitals of benzene) and that both contribute to the observed MLCT transitions. The LUMO energies calculated for the monometallic complexes correlate strongly with the observed hnu(max) (corrected for variations in metal contribution). The LUMO computed for dpp correlates with LUMO + 1 of pyrazine. This inversion of the order of the two lowest energy pi orbitals is unique to dpp in this series of ligands. Configurational mixing of the ground and MLCT excited states is treated as a small perturbation of the overall energies of the metal complexes, resulting in a contribution epsilon(s) to the ground-state energy. The fraction of charge delocalized, alpha(DA)(2), is expected to attenuate the reorganizational energy, chi(reorg), by a factor of approximately (1 - 4alpha(DA)(2) + alpha(DA)(4)), relative to the limit where there is no charge delocalization. This appears to be a substantial effect for these complexes (alpha(DA)(2) congruent with 0.1 for Ru(II)/bpy), and it leads to smaller reorganizational energies for emission than for absorption. Reorganizational energies are inferred from the bandwidths found in Gaussian analyses of the emission and/or absorption spectra. Exchange energies are estimated from the Stokes shifts combined with perturbation--theory-based relationship between the reorganizational energies for absorption and emission values. The results indicate that epsilon(s) is dominated by terms that contribute to electron delocalization between metal and PP ligand. This inference is supported by the large shifts in the N-H stretching frequency of coordinated NH(3) as the number of PP ligands is increased. The measured properties of the bpy and dpp ligands seem to be very similar, but electron delocalization appears to be slightly larger (10-40%) and the exchange energy contributions appear to be comparable (e.g., approximately 1.7 x 10(3) cm(-1) in [Ru(bpy)(2)dpp](2+) compared to approximately 1.3 x 10(3) cm(-1) in the bpy analogue).

Altering the Balance between Ligand-Based Radical Anion Formation and Dechelation in Electrochemically Reduced Binuclear Copper(I) Complexes: A Resonance Raman Spectroelectrochemical Study

The electrochemistry and spectral properties of a series of mono- and binuclear complexes with bridging ligands based on 2,3-di(2-quinolyl)quinoxaline are reported. The ligands are 2,3-di(2-quinolyl)quinoxaline (dqq), 6,7-dimethyl-2,3-di(2-quinolyl)quinoxaline (dqqMe(2)), and 6,7-dichloro-2,3-di(2-quinolyl)quinoxaline (dqqCl(2)). The complexes are [Cu(dqq)(PPh(3))(2)]BF(4), 1.[BF(4)]; [Cu(dqqMe(2))(PPh(3))(2)]BF(4), 2.[BF(4)]; [Cu(dqqCl(2))(PPh(3))(2)]BF(4), 3.[BF(4)]; [(PPh(3))(2)Cu(dqq)Cu(PPh(3))(2)](BF(4))(2), 4.[BF(4)](2); [(PPh(3))(2)Cu(dqqMe(2))Cu(PPh(3))(2)](BF(4))(2), 5.[BF(4)](2); [(PPh(3))(2)Cu(dqqCl(2))Cu(PPh(3))(2)](BF(4))(2), 6.[BF(4)](2). The mononuclear complexes reduce at the metal and dechelate, as evidenced by UV/vis spectroelectrochemistry. Reduction of the binuclear complexes results in ligand-based radical anion formation for 4 and 6 but decomposition of 5 to 2. The reduction species are identified using resonance Raman spectroscopy. The structures of [Cu(PPh(3))(2)(C(26)H(14)Cl(2)N(4))][BF(4)] (3.[BF(4)]) and [(Cu(PPh(3))(2))(2)(C(26)H(14)Cl(2)N(4))][BF(4)](2).2CH(2)Cl(2) (6.[BF(4)](2)) were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 3.[BF(4)] crystallized in the monoclinic space group P&onemacr; with cell dimensions a = 10.956(2) Å, b = 15.278(3) Å, c = 16.032(3) Å, alpha = 100.342(8) degrees, beta = 95.291(13) degrees, gamma = 93.968(12) degrees, Z = 2, rho(calcd) = 1.431 g/cm(3), and R(F(o)) = 0.0589. 6.[BF(4)](2) crystallized in the monoclinic space group C2/c with cell dimensions a = 21.295(4) Å, b = 24.322(5) Å, c = 20.034(4) Å, beta = 112.64(3) degrees, Z = 8, rho(calcd) = 1.486 g/cm(3), and R(F(o)) = 0.0422.

A Tridentate-Bridged Ruthenium-Rhodium Complex as a Stereochemically Defined Light-Absorber-Electron-Acceptor Dyad

The complex [(tpy)Ru(tpp)RhCl(3)](PF(6))(2) (tpy = 2,2',6',2"-terpyridine and tpp = 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine) has been prepared and its spectroscopic, electrochemical, and photophysical properties investigated. This complex couples a ruthenium light absorber to a rhodium electron acceptor to create the first tpp-bridged light-absorber-electron-acceptor dyad. This study illustrates the applicability of this (tpy)Ru(II)(&mgr;-tpp) chromophore in the construction of photochemical molecular devices. This system is of interest since the tpp ligand has been shown to provide stereochemically defined polymetallic complexes with reasonably long-lived metal to ligand charge transfer excited states. The complex [(tpy)Ru(tpp)RhCl(3)](PF(6))(2) displays a Ru-->tpp CT transition centered at 516 nm that is the lowest lying electronic transition. The electrochemistry of [(tpy)Ru(tpp)RhCl(3)](PF(6))(2) shows a Ru(II/III) couple at 1.60 V vs Ag/AgCl, an irreversible Rh(III/I) reduction at -0.23 V and, a tpp(0/)(-) couple at -0.60 V. This illustrates that although this complex has a lowest lying spin-allowed spectroscopic transition that is Ru-->tpp CT in nature, the lowest occupied molecular orbital is Rh based. Thus, following excitation of this [(tpy)Ru(tpp)RhCl(3)](PF(6))(2) complex into the Ru-->tpp CT state, electron transfer to the rhodium is thermodyamically favorable. This electron transfer leads to a quenching of the emission normally observed for this Ru-->tpp CT excited state. Emission quenching for [(tpy)Ru(tpp)RhCl(3)](PF(6))(2) via electron transfer is 80% efficient with a k(et) of 4 x 10(7) s(-)(1). Details of these studies are presented herein.

Electrochemical, Spectroscopic, and Spectroelectrochemical Properties of Synthetically Useful Supramolecular Light Absorbers with Mixed Polyazine Bridging Ligands

The trimetallic complexes [{(bpy)(2)M(dpp)}(2)Ru(dpq)](6+) (M = Ru(II) or Os(II), bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, dpp = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine, and dpq = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)quinoxaline) have been prepared and the details of their spectroscopic, electrochemical, and spectroelectrochemical properties investigated. These mixed bridging ligand complexes are a new group of synthons that can be useful for the construction of supramolecular devices for a wide variety of functions. It is the presence of the terminal dpq ligand that allows for their incorporation into larger supramolecular systems. This dpq ligand serves as an acceptor ligand that will possess a lower lying pi orbital than the dpp ligands once these chromophores are incorporated into larger systems. The [{(bpy)(2)M(dpp)}(2)Ru(dpq)](6+) systems display overlapping terminal metal oxidations at 1.66 and 1.18 V vs Ag/AgCl for the Ru and Os systems, respectively. This indicates that within this framework, these terminal, M, metals are largely electronically uncoupled. No oxidative process for the central Ru metal center is observed within our solvent window. The [{(bpy)(2)M(dpp)}(2)Ru(dpq)](6+) systems have M --> dpp charge transfer (CT) lowest lying excited states. The [{(bpy)(2)Ru(dpp)}(2)Ru(dpq)](6+) Ru --> dpp CT state displays an emission centered at 775 nm with a lifetime of 65 ns at room temperature in deoxygenated CH(3)CN solution. The details of the electrochemical, spectroscopic, and spectroelectrochemical studies of these supramolecular light absorbers and the dichloro synthons, [{(bpy)(2)M(dpp)}(2)RuCl(2)](4+), are reported herein.

Bipyrimidine-Bridged Mixed-Metal Trimetallic Complexes of Ruthenium(II) with Rhodium(III) or Iridium(III), {[(bpy)(2)Ru(bpm)](2)MCl(2)}(5+)

Bipyrimidine-bridged trimetallic complexes of the form {[(bpy)(2)Ru(bpm)](2)MCl(2)}(5+), where M = Rh(III) or Ir(III), bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, and bpm = 2,2'-bipyrimidine, have been synthesized and characterized. These complexes are of interest in that they couple catalytically active rhodium(III) and iridium(III) metals with light-absorbing ruthenium(II) metals within a polymetallic framework. Their molecular composition is a light absorber-electron collector-light absorber core of a photochemical molecular device (PMD) for photoinitiated electron collection. The variation of the central metal has some profound effects on the observed properties of these complexes. The electrochemical data for the title trimetallics consist of a Ru(II/III) oxidation and sequential reductions assigned to the bipyrimidine ligands, Ir or Rh metal centers, and bipyridines. In both trimetallic complexes, the first oxidation is Ru based and the bridging ligand reductions occur prior to the central metal reduction. This illustrates that the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) is localized on the ruthenium metal center and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital resides on the bpm ligand. This bpm-based LUMO in {[(bpy)(2)Ru(bpm)](2)RhCl(2)}(5+) is in contrast with that observed for the monometallic [Rh(bpm)(2)Cl(2)](+) where the Rh(III)/Rh(I) reduction occurs prior to the bpm reduction. This orbital inversion is a result of bridge formation upon construction of the trimetallic complex. Both the Ir- and Rh-based trimetallic complexes exhibit a room temperature emission centered at 800 nm with tau = 10 ns. A detailed comparison of the spectroscopic, electrochemical, and spectroelectrochemical properties of these polymetallic complexes is described herein.

A Tetranuclear Ruthenium(II) Complex Containing both Electron-Rich and Electron-Poor Bridging Ligands. Absorption Spectrum, Luminescence, Redox Behavior, and Intercomponent Energy Transfer

The first luminescent and redox active multinuclear Ru(II) compound containing both electron-poor (2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine, 2,3-dpp) and electron-rich (3,5-bis(pyridyn-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole, Hbpt) polypyridine bridging ligands has been synthesized. The novel compound is [(bpy)(2)Ru(&mgr;-bpt)Ru{(&mgr;-2,3-dpp)Ru(bpy)(2)}(2)](7+) (1; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine). Its absorption spectrum, luminescence properties, and redox behavior have been studied and are compared with the properties of the parent complexes [Ru{(&mgr;-2,3-dpp)Ru(bpy)(2)}(3)](8+) (2) and [(bpy)(2)Ru(&mgr;-bpt)Ru(bpy)(2)](3+) (3). The absorption spectrum of 1 is dominated by ligand-centered bands in the UV region and by metal-to-ligand charge transfer bands in the visible region. Excited states and oxidation and reduction processes are localized in specific sites of the multicomponent structure. However, perturbations of each component on the redox and excited states of the others, as well as electronic interactions between the chromophores, can be observed. Intercomponent energy transfer from the upper-lying (&mgr;-bpt)(bpy)Ru-->bpy CT excited state of the Ru(bpy)(2)(&mgr;-bpt)(+) component to the lower-lying (bpy)(2)Ru-->&mgr;-2,3-dpp CT excited state of the Ru(bpy)(2)(&mgr;-2,3-dpp)(2+) subunit(s) is efficient in 1 in fluid solution at room temperature, whereas this process is not observed in a rigid matrix at 77 K. A two-step energy transfer mechanism is proposed to explain the photophysical properties of the new compound.