Isomeric Diruthenium Complexes of a Heterocyclic and Quinonoid Bridging Ligand: Valence and Spin Alternatives for the Metal/Ligand/Metal Arrangement

Structural and electronic forms of doubly oxido/Pz and triply oxido/(Pz)2 bridged mixed valent and isovalent diruthenium complexes (Pz = pyrazolate)

The article reported on the diastereomeric dinuclear mixed-valent complexes [(acac)₂Ru(III)(μ-O)(μ-Pz^R)Ru(IV)(acac)₂] (R = H, Me, meso: ΔΛ, 1a-1c; rac: ΔΔ/ΛΛ, 2a-2c) and rac-[(acac)₂Ru(III)(μ-O)(μ-Iz)Ru(IV)(acac)₂], (2d) (HPz = pyrazole, HIz = indazole, acac = acetylacetonate). Moreover, the diruthenium(II,II) complexes [(HPz)₃Ru(II)(μ-O)(μ-Pz)₂ Ru(II)(HPz)₃] (3a) and [(HIz)₃Ru(II)(μ-O)(μ-Iz)₂Ru(II)(HIz)₃] (3d) were presented. The analogous form of 3a, i.e., [(HPz)₂(Pz)Ru(III)(μ-O)(μ-Pz)₂Ru(III)(Pz)(HPz)₂], was previously reported. Single crystal X-ray structures of 1a-1c/2a-2d and representative 3a showed their molecular forms, including the diastereomeric nature of the former. The Ru-O-Ru angle decreased appreciably on switching from doubly bridged 1 and 2 (128-135°) to triply bridged 3a (114°). Both series of complexes displayed rhombic symmetry in their EPR spectra, with g₁ and g₂ being very similar for 1a-1c with an almost axial look. The mixed-valence complex with a Ru(III)Ru(IV) (S = 1/2) state of 1 and 2 would lead to iso-valence complexes of Ru(III)Ru(III) and Ru(IV)Ru(IV) with an EPR inactive state by one electron redox reaction. On the other hand, metal based {Ru(II)Ru(II)/Ru(II)Ru(III), 3a/3a⁺} and terminal ligand (HPz/HPz^-, 3a/3a^-) based redox processes displayed anisotropic and free radical EPR, respectively. An IVCT (intervalence charge transfer) band was found for the delocalised mixed valent 1 and 2 {Ru(III)Ru(IV)} or 3a⁺ {Ru(II)Ru(III)} in the NIR region. The intense metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions of 1-3 in the visible region varied systematically as a function of the metal oxidation state.

A "Pretender" Croconate-Bridged Macrocyclic Tetraruthenium Complex: Sizable Redox Potential Splittings despite Electronically Insulated Divinylphenylene Diruthenium Entities

Careful optimization of the reaction conditions provided access to the particularly small tetraruthenium macrocycle ²Ru₂Ph-Croc, which is composed out of two redox-active divinylphenylene-bridged diruthenium entities {Ru}-1,4-CH=CH-C₆H₄-CH=CH-{Ru} (Ru₂Ph; {Ru} = Ru(CO)Cl(PⁱPr₃)₂) and two likewise redox-active and potentially non-innocent croconate linkers. According to single X-ray diffraction analysis, the central cavity of ²Ru₂Ph-Croc is shielded by the bulky PⁱPr₃ ligands, which come into close contact. Cyclic voltammetry revealed two pairs of split anodic waves in the weakly ion pairing CH₂Cl₂/NBu₄BAr^F₂₄ (BAr^F₂₄ = [B{C₆H₃(CF₃)₂-3,5}₄]⁻ electrolyte, while the third and fourth waves fall together in CH₂Cl₂/NBu₄PF₆. The various oxidized forms were electrogenerated and scrutinized by IR and UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy. This allowed us to assign the individual oxidations to the metal-organic Ru₂Ph entities within ²Ru₂Ph-Croc, while the croconate ligands remain largely uninvolved. The lack of specific NIR bands that could be assigned to intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) in the mono- and trications indicates that these mixed-valent species are strictly charge-localized. ²Ru₂Ph-Croc is hence an exemplary case, where stepwise IR band shifts and quite sizable redox splittings between consecutive one-electron oxidations would, on first sight, point to electronic coupling, but are exclusively due to electrostatic and inductive effects. This makes ²Ru₂Ph-Croc a true “pretender”.

Multi-electron Reduction Capacity and Multiple Binding Pockets in Metal-Organic Redox Assembly at Surfaces

Metal-ligand complexation at surfaces utilizing redox-active ligands has been demonstrated to produce uniform single-site metals centers in regular coordination networks. Two key design considerations are the electron storage capacity of the ligand and the metal-coordinating pockets on the ligand. In an effort to move toward greater complexity in the systems, particularly dinuclear metal centers, we designed and synthesized tetraethyltetra-aza-anthraquinone, TAAQ, which has superior electron storage capabilities and four ligating pockets in a diverging geometry. Cyclic voltammetry studies of the free ligand demonstrate its ability to undergo up to a four-electron reduction. Solution-based studies with an analogous ligand, diethyldi-aza-anthraquinone, demonstrate these redox capabilities in a molecular environment. Surface studies conducted on the Au(111) surface demonstrate TAAQ's ability to complex with Fe. This complexation can be observed at different stoichiometric ratios of Fe:TAAQ as Fe 2p core level shifts in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Scanning tunneling microscopy experiments confirmed the formation of metal-organic coordination structures. The striking feature of these structures is their irregularity, which indicates the presence of multiple local binding motifs. Density functional theory calculations confirm several energetically accessible Fe:TAAQ isomers, which accounts for the non-uniformity of the chains.

Substituent Effects on the Electrochemistry and Electronic Coupling of Terphenyl-Bridged Cyclometalated Ruthenium-Amine Conjugated Complexes

Six terphenyl-bridged cyclometalated ruthenium-amine conjugated complexes 4(PF6)-9(PF6) were synthesized and studied. Three different substituents, methoxy, methyl, and chloro, were used to vary the electronic nature of the amine unit, and two terminal ligands 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (tpy) and trimethyl-4,4',4″-tricarboxylate-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (Me3tctpy) were used to tune the electronic nature of the ruthenium component. All complexes, except 7(PF6) with the methoxy substituent and Me3tctpy ligand, display two well-separated redox waves in the potential range of +0.5 to +1.1 V versus Ag/AgCl. The regular electrochemical changes of these complexes help to establish the oxidation order of ruthenium and amine and hence of the direction of the electron transfer in odd-electron state. The degree of electronic coupling was estimated by analyzing the donor-to-acceptor charge transfer band in the near-infrared region obtained by oxidative spectroelectrochemical measurements. Electron paramagnetic resonance analyses and density functional theory calculations were performed on the one-electron oxidized forms to obtain information on the spin distribution of these complexes.

Intervalence of two planar chiral 2-methylferrocenyl groups over a diaurum bridge

The electronic structure of recently reported diaurum (Au^I⋯Au^I and XAu^II–Au^IIX) complexes, containing two methylferrocenyloxazoline ligands are described.

Redox Behavior of a Dinuclear Ruthenium(II) Complex Bearing an Uncommon Bridging Ligand: Insights from High-Pressure Electrochemistry

A dinuclear ruthenium complex bridged by 2,3,5,6-pyrazinetetracarboxylic acid (μ-LH₂^2-) was synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography, cyclic voltammetry under ambient and elevated pressures, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and UV/vis-NIR (NIR = near-infrared) spectroelectrochemistry, pulse radiolysis, and computational methods. We probed for the first time in the field of mixed-valency the use of high-pressure electrochemical methods. The investigations were directed toward the influence of the protonation state of the bridging ligand on the electronic communication between the ruthenium ions, since such behavior is interesting in terms of modulating redox chemistry by pH. Starting from the [Ru^II(μ-LH₂^2-)Ru^II]⁰ configuration, which shows an intense metal-to-ligand charge transfer absorption band at 600 nm, cyclic voltammetry revealed a pH-independent, reversible one-electron reduction and a protonation-state-dependent (proton coupled electron transfer, PCET) reversible oxidation. Deeper insight into the electrode reactions was provided by pressure-dependent cyclic voltammetry up to 150 MPa, providing insight into the conformational changes, the protonation state, and the environment of the molecule during the redox processes. Spectroelectrochemical investigations (EPR, UV/vis-NIR) of the respective redox reactions suggest a ligand-centered radical anion [Ru^II(μ-LH₂^•3-)Ru^II]^- upon reduction (EPR Δg = 0.042) and an ambiguous, EPR-silent one-electron oxidized state. In both cases, the absence of the otherwise typical broad intervalence charge transfer bands in the NIR region for mixed-valent complexes support the formulation as radical anionic bridged compound. However, on the basis of high-pressure electrochemical data and density functional theory calculations the one-electron oxidized form could be assigned as a charge-delocalized [Ru^II.5(μ-LH₂^2-)Ru^II.5]⁺ valence tautomer rather than [Ru^III(μ-LH₂^•3-)Ru^III]⁺. Deprotonation of the bridging ligand causes a severe shift of the redox potential for the metal-based oxidation toward lower potentials, yielding the charge-localized [Ru^III(μ-LH^3-)Ru^II]⁰ complex. This PCET process is accompanied by large intrinsic volume changes. All findings are supported by computational methods (geometry optimization, spin population analysis). For all redox processes, valence alternatives are discussed.

Non-innocence and mixed valency in tri- and tetranuclear ruthenium complexes of a heteroquinone bridging ligand

The potential of a heteroquinone to bridge up to four metal fragments has been structurally elucidated and multiple redox processes have been ascertained.