Tuning the electronic coupling in cyclometalated diruthenium complexes through substituent effects: a correlation between the experimental and calculated results

Fine-Tuning of the Optical and Electrochemical Properties of Ruthenium(II) Complexes with 2-Arylbenzimidazoles and 4,4'-Dimethoxycarbonyl-2,2'-bipyridine

A series of cyclometalated complexes of ruthenium (II) with four different substituents in the aryl fragment of benzimidazole was synthesized in order to study the effect of substituent donation on the electronic structure of the substances. The resulting complexes were studied using X-ray diffraction, NMR spectroscopy, MALDI mass spectrometry, electron absorption spectroscopy, luminescence spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry as well as DFT/TDDFT was also used to interpret the results. All the complexes have intense absorption in the range of up to 700 nm, the triplet nature of the excited state was confirmed by measurement of luminescence decay. With an increase in substituent donation, a red shift of the absorption and emission bands occurs, and the lifetime of the excited state and the redox potential of the complex decrease. The combination of these properties shows that the complexes are excellent dyes and can be used as photosensitizers.

Controlling Intramolecular and Intermolecular Electronic Coupling of Radical Ligands in a Series of Cobaltoviologen Complexes

Controlling electronic coupling between multiple redox sites is of interest for tuning the electronic properties of molecules and materials. While classic mixed-valence (MV) systems are highly tunable, e.g., via the organic bridges connecting the redox sites, metal-bridged MV systems are difficult to control because the electronics of the metal cannot usually be altered independently of redox-active moieties embedded in its ligands. Herein, this limitation was overcome by varying the donor strengths of ancillary ligands in a series of cobalt complexes without directly perturbing the electronics of viologen-like redox sites bridged by the cobalt ions. The cobaltoviologens [1_X-Co]ⁿ⁺ feature four 4-X-pyridyl donor groups (X = CO₂Me, Cl, H, Me, OMe, NMe₂) that provide gradual electronic tuning of the bridging Co^II centers, while a related complex [2-Co]ⁿ⁺ with NHC donors supports exclusively Co^III states even upon reduction of the viologen units. Electrochemistry and IVCT band analysis indicate that the MV states of these complexes have electronic structures ranging from fully localized ([2-Co]⁴⁺; Robin-Day Class I) to fully delocalized ([1_CO2Me-Co]³⁺; Class III) descriptions, demonstrating unprecedented control over electronic coupling without changing the identity of the redox sites or bridging metal. Additionally, single-crystal XRD characterization of the homovalent complexes [1_H-Co]²⁺ and [1_H-Zn]²⁺ revealed radical-pairing interactions between the viologen ligands of adjacent complexes, representing a type of through-space electronic coupling commonly observed for organic viologen radicals but never before seen in metalloviologens. The extended solid-state packing of these complexes produces 3D networks of radical π-stacking interactions that impart unexpected mechanical flexibility to these crystals.

Synthesis and electronic coupling studies of cyclometalated diruthenium complexes bridged by 3,3',5,5'-tetrakis(benzimidazol-2-yl)-biphenyl

Three cyclometalated diruthenium complexes bridged by 3,3',5,5'-tetrakis(benzimidazol-2-yl)biphenyl (H-tbibp) and capped with different terminal ligands have been synthesized and examined. In addition, two monoruthenium complexes with H-tbibp have been prepared for the purpose of comparison studies. The degree of Ru-Ru electronic coupling of these diruthenium complexes has been investigated by electrochemical and intervalence charge-transfer (IVCT) analyses. These results suggest that when the same or similar terminal ligands are used, the strength of H-tbibp in mediating the Ru-Ru coupling is enhanced with respect to that of the previously reported bridging ligand 3,3',5,5'-tetrakis(N-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)biphenyl, but it is slightly inferior to that of the classical bridging ligand 3,3',5,5'-tetrakis(pyrid-2-yl)biphenyl. This trend is also supported by CNS analyses based on the hole-superexchange mechanism. In addition, DFT calculations have been performed to probe the spin density distributions of the singly-oxidized diruthenium complexes with H-tbibp and TDDFT calculations are used to reproduce the IVCT transitions.

Remote control of electronic coupling – modification of excited-state electron-transfer rates in Ru(tpy)2-based donor–acceptor systems by remote ligand design

Electronic coupling (H_DA) underlying the electron transfer (ET) can be tuned by the remote substituents R.

Synthesis, Photophysics, and Switchable Luminescence Properties of a New Class of Ruthenium(II)-Terpyridine Complexes Containing Photoisomerizable Styrylbenzene Units

We report here the synthesis and structural characterization of a new class of homoleptic terpyridine complexes of Ru(II) containing styrylbenzene moieties to improve room-temperature luminescence properties. Solid-state structure determination of 2 was done through single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Tuning of photophysical properties was done by incorporating both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents in the ligand. The complexes exhibit strong emission having lifetimes in the range of 10.0-158.5 ns, dependent on the substituent and the solvent. Good correlations were also observed between Hammett σ_p parameters with the lifetimes of the complexes. Styrylbenzene moieties in the complexes induce trans-trans to trans-cis isomerization accompanied by huge alteration of their spectral profiles upon treating with UV light. Reversal of trans-cis to trans-trans forms was also achieved on interacting with visible light. Change from trans-trans to the corresponding trans-cis form leads to emission quenching, whereas trans-cis to the corresponding trans-trans form leads to restoration of emission. In essence, "on-off" and "off-on" photoswitching of luminescence was observed. Calculations involving density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent-DFT methods were performed to understand the electronic structures as well as for appropriate assignment of the absorption and emission bands.

Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Luminescence Switching of Diarylethene-Conjugated Ru(II)-Terpyridine Complexes by trans-cis Photoisomerization: Experimental and DFT/TD-DFT Investigation

We synthesized and thoroughly characterized a new family of diarylethene-conjugated mononuclear Ru(II)-terpyridine complexes and investigated in detail their photophysical, electrochemical, and spectroelectrochemical behaviors. Interestingly, the compounds show moderately strong room-temperature luminescence predominantly from their ³MLCT state with luminescence lifetime varying between 8.43 and 22.82 ns. Because of the presence of diarylethene unit, all the monometallic complexes underwent trans-to-cis photoisomerization upon interaction with UV light with substantial changes in their absorption and luminescence spectra. Reverting back from the cis to the trans form is also made possible upon treatment with visible light or by heat. Trans-to-cis isomerization leads to almost complete quenching of luminescence, while backward cis-to-trans isomerization gives rise to restoration of the original luminescence for all the complexes. Thus, "on-off" and "off-on" emission switching was made possible upon successive interaction of the complexes with UV and visible light. Computational investigation involving density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT methods was done for proper assignment of the experimental absorption and emission spectral bands in the complexes. Finally, experimentally observed trend on the absorption and emission spectral behaviors of the complexes upon photoisomerization was also compared with the calculated results.

Bridged cyclometalated diruthenium complexes for fundamental electron transfer studies and multi-stage redox switching

Four bridged cyclometalated diruthenium systems are highlighted in this Frontier article, including strongly-coupled diruthenium complexes with a short phen-1,4-diyl or a planar pyren-2,7-diyl bridge, redox asymmetric diruthenium complexes characterized by different terminal ligands on the two ends, diruthenium complexes with a urea bridge that allows modulating the degree of electronic coupling, and those with a redox-active amine bridge with varying electronic structures. These complexes posess redox couples with low potentials and intense intervalence charge transfer absorptions in the near-infrared region in the one-electron-oxidized mixed-valent state. They are appealing not only for providing a platform for fundamental electron transfer studies but also as molecular materials with multi-stage redox switching properties.

Exploring the localized to delocalized transition in non-symmetric bimetallic ruthenium polypyridines

In this work, we report the evolution of the properties of the inter-valence charge transfer (IVCT) transition in a family of cyanide-bridged ruthenium polypyridines of general formula [Ru^II(tpy)(bpy)(μ-CN)Ru^III(bpy)₂(L)]^3/4+ (tpy = 2,2',6',2''-terpyridine; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; L = Cl^-, NCS^-, 4-dimethylaminopyridine or acetonitrile). In these complexes, the redox potential difference between both ruthenium centers (ΔE) is systematically modified. A decrease in ΔE causes a red shift of the energy and an intensity enhancement of the observed IVCT transitions. For L = acetonitrile, the IVCT band becomes narrower and asymmetrical, and shows very little dependence on the nature of the solvent, suggesting a delocalized configuration, although a non-symmetrical one. Also, additional electronic transitions of low energy are clearly resolved in this complex. The observed variation in the properties of the IVCT transitions can be understood on the basis of DFT calculations, that point to increasing mixing between the dπ orbitals of both Ru ions.

Luminescent Dinuclear Ruthenium Terpyridine Complexes with a Bis-Phenylbenzimidazole Spacer

A conjugated bis-terpyridine bridging ligand, 2-(4-(2,6-di(pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-4-yl)phenyl)-6-(2-(4-(2,6-di(pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-4-yl)phenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-6-yl)-1H-benzo[d] imidazole (tpy-BPhBzimH₂-tpy), was designed in this work by covalent coupling of 3,3'-diaminobenzidine and two 4'-(p-formylphenyl)-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine units to synthesize a new series of bimetallic Ru(II)-terpyridine light-harvesting complexes. Photophysical and electrochemical properties were modulated by the variation of the terminal ligands in the complexes. The new compounds were thoroughly characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Absorption spectra of the complexes consist of very strong ligand-centered π-π* and n-π* transitions in the UV, metal-to-ligand, and intraligand charge transfer bands in the visible regions. Steady-state and time-resolved emission spectral measurements indicate that the complexes exhibit moderately intense luminescence at room temperature within the spectral domain of 653-687 nm having luminescence lifetimes in the range between 6.3 and 55.2 ns, depending upon terminal tridentate ligand and solvent. Variable-temperature luminescence measurements suggest substantial increase of the energy gap between luminescent ³metal-to-ligand charge transfer state and nonluminescent ³metal centered in the complexes compared to the parent [Ru(tpy)₂]²⁺. Each of the three bimetallic complexes exhibits only one reversible couple in the positive potential window with almost no detectable splitting corresponding to simultaneous oxidation of the two remote Ru centers. All the complexes possess a number of imidazole NH protons, which became sufficiently acidic upon metal ion coordination. By utilizing these NH protons, we thoroughly studied anion recognition properties of the complexes in pure organic as well as predominantly aqueous media through multiple optical channels and spectroscopic methods. Finally computation investigations employing density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT were done to examine the electronic structures of the complexes and accurate assignment of experimentally observed optical spectral bands.

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

A low-energy ³LL′CT state efficiently depopulates the emissive ³MLCT state in cyclometalated [Ru(dpb-R)(tpy)]⁺ complexes (dpbH = 1,3-di(2-pyridyl)benzene, tpy = 2,2′;6′,2′′-terpyridine).

Cyclometalated Osmium-Amine Electronic Communication through the p-Oligophenylene Wire

A series of bis-tridentate cyclometalated osmium complexes with a redox-active triarylamine substituent have been prepared, where the amine substituent is separated from the osmium ion by a p-oligophenylene wire of various lengths. X-ray crystallographic data of complexes 3(PF6) and 4(PF6) with three or four repeating phenyl units between the osmium ion and the amine substituent are presented. These complexes show two consecutive anodic redox couples between +0.1 and +0.9 V vs Ag/AgCl, with the potential splitting in the range of 300-390 mV. A combined experimental and theoretical study suggests that, in the one-electron-oxidized state, the odd electron is delocalized for short congeners and localized on the osmium component for long congeners. The electronic coupling parameter (Vab) was estimated by the Marcus-Hush analysis. The distance dependence plot of ln(Vab) versus the osmium-amine geometrical distance (Rab) gives a negative linear relationship with a decay slope of -0.19 Å(-1), which is slightly steeper with respect to the previously reported ruthenium-amine series with the same molecular wire. DFT calculations with the long-range-corrected UCAM-B3LYP functional gave more reasonable results for the osmium complexes with respect to those with UB3LYP.

Long-Range Ruthenium-Amine Electronic Communication through the para-Oligophenylene Wire

The studies of long-range electronic communication are hampered by solubility and potential-splitting issues. A “hybridized redox-asymmetry” method using a combination of organic and inorganic redox species is proposed and exemplified to overcome these two issues. Complexes 1(PF₆)–6(PF₆) (from short to long in length) with the organic redox-active amine and inorganic cyclometalated ruthenium termini bridged by the para-oligophenylene wire have been prepared. Complex 6 has the longest Ru-amine geometrical distance of 27.85 Å. Complexes 3(PF₆) and 4(PF₆) show lamellar crystal packing on the basis of a head-to-tail anti-parallelly aligned dimeric structure. Two redox waves are observed for all complexes in the potential region between +0.2 and +0.9 V vs Ag/AgCl. The electrochemical potential splitting is 410, 220, 143, 112, 107, and 105 mV for 1(PF₆) through 6(PF₆), respectively. Ruthenium (+2) to aminium (N^•+) charge transfer transitions have been identified for the odd-electron compounds 1²⁺–6²⁺ by spectroelectrochemical measurements. The electronic communication between amine and ruthenium decreases exponentially with a decay slope of −0.137 Å⁻¹. DFT calculations have been performed to complement these experimental results.

Conformation-determined through-bond versus through-space electronic communication in mixed-valence systems with a cross-conjugated urea bridge

Bis-triarylamine 2 and cyclometalated diruthenium 6(PF6)2 with a linear trans,trans-urea bridge have been prepared, together with the bis-triarylamine 3 and cyclometalated diruthenium 8(PF6)2 with a folded cis,cis-N,N-dimethylurea bridge. The linear or folded conformations of these molecules are supported by single-crystal X-ray structures of 2, 3, and other related compounds. These compounds display two consecutive anodic redox waves (N(·+/0) or Ru(III/II) processes) with a potential separation of 110-170 mV. This suggests that an efficient electronic coupling is present between two redox termini through the cross-conjugated urea bridge. The degree of electronic coupling has been investigated by using spectroelectrochemical measurements. Distinct intervalence charge-transfer (IVCT) transitions have been observed for mixed-valent (MV) compounds with a linear conformation. The IVCT transitions can also be identified for the folded MV compounds, albeit with a much weaker intensity. DFT results support that the electronic communication occurs by a through-bond and through-space pathway for the linear and folded compounds, respectively. The IVCT transitions of the MV compounds have been reproduced by TDDFT calculations. For the purpose of comparison, a bistriarylamine and a diruthenium complex with an imidazolidin-2-one bridge and a urea-containing mono-triarylamine and monoruthenium complex have been synthesized and studied.