Dual emission and excited-state mixed-valence in a quasi-symmetric dinuclear Ru-Ru complex.

The synthesis and characterization of the new dinuclear dipeptide [(EtOOC-tpy)Ru(tpy-NHCO-tpy)Ru(tpy-NHCOCH3)](4+) 3(4+) of the bis(terpyridine)ruthenium amino acid [(HOOC-tpy)Ru(tpy-NH2)](2+) 1(2+) are described, and the properties of the dipeptide are compared to those of the mononuclear complex [(EtOOC-tpy)Ru(tpy-NHCOCH3)](2+) 4(2+) carrying the same functional groups. 3(4+) is designed to serve a high electronic similarity of the two ruthenium sites despite the intrinsic asymmetry arising from the amide bridge. This is confirmed via UV-vis absorption and NMR spectroscopy as well as cyclic voltammetry. 4(2+) and 3(4+) are emissive at room temperature, as expected. Moreover, 3(4+) exhibit…

Excited state decay of cyclometalated polypyridine ruthenium complexes: insight from theory and experiment.

Deactivation pathways of the triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer ((3)MLCT) excited state of cyclometalated polypyridine ruthenium complexes with [RuN5C](+) coordination are discussed on the basis of the available experimental data and a series of density functional theory calculations. Three different complex classes are considered, namely with [Ru(N^N)2(N^C)](+), [Ru(N^N^N)(N^C^N)](+) and [Ru(N^N^N)(N^N^C)](+) coordination modes. Excited state deactivation in these complex types proceeds via five distinct decay channels. Vibronic coupling of the (3)MLCT state to high-energy oscillators of the singlet ground state ((1)GS) allows tunneling to the ground state followed by vibrational rela…

[Cr(ddpd)2]3+: ein molekulares, wasserlösliches, hoch NIR-lumineszentes Rubin-Analogon

Strongly Coupled Cyclometalated Ruthenium Triarylamine Chromophores as Sensitizers for DSSCs

A series of anchor-functionalized cyclometalated bis(tridentate) ruthenium(II) triarylamine hybrids [Ru(dbp-X)(tctpy)](2-) [2 a](2-) -[2 c](2-) (H3 tctpy=2,2';6',2''-terpyridine-4,4',4''-tricarboxylic acid; dpbH=1,3-dipyridylbenzene; X=N(4-C6 H4 OMe)2 ([2 a](2-) ), NPh2 ([2 b](2-) ), N-carbazolyl [2 c](2-) ) was synthesized and characterized. All complexes show broad absorption bands in the range 300-700 nm with a maximum at about 545 nm. Methyl esters [Ru(Me3 tctpy)(dpb-X)](+) [1 a](+) -[1 c](+) are oxidized to the strongly coupled mixed-valent species [1 a](2+) -[1 c](2+) and the Ru(III) (aminium) complexes [1 a](3+) -[1 c](3+) at comparably low oxidation potentials. Theoretical calculati…

The photochemistry of mono- and dinuclear cyclometalated bis(tridentate)ruthenium(ii) complexes: dual excited state deactivation and dual emission

The synthesis and characterization of a series of weakly emissive mononuclear cyclometalated [Ru(dpb-R)(tpy)](+) complexes with functional groups R of varying electron-donating characters at the dpb ligand are described (dpbH = 1,3-di(2-pyridyl)benzene, tpy = 2,2';6',2''-terpyridine, 1(+): R = NHCOMe, 2(+): R = NH2, 3(+): R = COOEt, 4(+): R = COOH). Steady-state emission spectroscopy in the temperature range between 298 K and 77 K revealed a previously unrecognized excited state deactivation pathway via low-lying triplet ligand-to-ligand ((3)LL'CT) charge transfer states in addition to the well-known pathway via(3)MC states. Thermal activation barriers for depopulation of the emissive metal…

Redox and Photochemistry of Bis(terpyridine)ruthenium(II) Amino Acids and Their Amide Conjugates – from Understanding to Applications

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Katja Heinze at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Germany. The cover image shows the bis(terpyridine)ruthenium(II) amino acid [Ru(4′-tpy-COOH)(4′-tpy-NH2)]2+ (tpy = 2,2′;6′,2″-terpyridine), illustrating some of its multifaceted optical and redox chemical properties as well as highlighting its potential applications in light-to-energy conversion and energy-to-light conversion schemes.

Understanding the Excited State Behavior of Cyclometalated Bis(tridentate)ruthenium(II) Complexes: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study

The synthesis and characterization of the donor-acceptor substituted cyclometalated ruthenium(II) polypyridine complex isomers [Ru(dpb-NHCOMe)(tpy-COOEt)](PF6) 1(PF6) and [Ru(dpb-COOEt)(tpy-NHCOMe)](PF6) 2(PF6) (dpbH = 1,3-dipyridin-2-ylbenzene, tpy = 2,2';6,2"-terpyridine) with inverted functional group pattern are described. A combination of resonance Raman spectroscopic and computational techniques shows that all intense visible range absorption bands arise from mixed Ru → tpy/Ru → dpb metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excitations. 2(PF6) is weakly phosphorescent at room temperature in fluid solution and strongly emissive at 77 K in solid butyronitrile matrix, which is typical for r…

Redox and Photochemistry of Bis(terpyridine)ruthenium(II) Amino Acids and Their Amide Conjugates – from Understanding to Applications (Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 32/2014)

ChemInform Abstract: Excited State Decay of Cyclometalated Polypyridine Ruthenium Complexes: Insight from Theory and Experiment

Deactivation pathways of the triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer (3MLCT) excited state of cyclometalated polypyridine ruthenium complexes with [RuN5C]+ coordination are discussed on the basis of the available experimental data and a series of density functional theory calculations. Three different complex classes are considered, namely with [Ru(N^N)2(N^C)]+, [Ru(N^N^N)(N^C^N)]+ and [Ru(N^N^N)(N^N^C)]+ coordination modes. Excited state deactivation in these complex types proceeds via five distinct decay channels. Vibronic coupling of the 3MLCT state to high-energy oscillators of the singlet ground state (1GS) allows tunneling to the ground state followed by vibrational relaxation (path A…

[Cr(ddpd) 2 ] 3+ : A Molecular, Water‐Soluble, Highly NIR‐Emissive Ruby Analogue

Bright, long-lived emission from first-row transition-metal complexes is very challenging to achieve. Herein, we present a new strategy relying on the rational tuning of energy levels. With the aid of the large N-Cr-N bite angle of the tridentate ligand ddpd (N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-dipyridine-2-ylpyridine-2,6-diamine) and its strong σ-donating capabilities, a very large ligand-field splitting could be introduced in the chromium(III) complex [Cr(ddpd)2](3+), that shifts the deactivating and photoreactive (4)T2 state well above the emitting (2)E state. Prevention of back-intersystem crossing from the (2)E to the (4)T2 state enables exceptionally high near-infrared phosphorescence quantum yields a…