Electrochemical study of dinuclear ruthenium(II)—arene compounds: Electrogeneration of Ru(II)—Ru(I) species

Abstract The preparation and characterization of Ru(II)—arene compounds [{RuCl2(p-cym)}2(μ-L-L)] where p-cym = p-MeC6H4CHMe2; and L-L = diphenylphosphinomethane (I), 1,1′-bisdiphenylphosphinoferrocene (II), pyrazine (III) and 4,4′-bipyridine (IV), are described. Electrochemical data for these compounds obtained by cyclic voltammetry and coulometry are reported. The electrochemical reduction of compounds I or II yields ruthenium(O) species. However, compounds III or IV containing ligands with delocalized Π orbitals undergo one-electron reduction. The ESR signal detected during the electrolysis of compounds III or IV is consistent with one delocalized electron through the whole dinuclear unit.