Fine Tuning of the Electronic Coupling between Metal Centers in Cyano-Bridged Mixed-Valent Trinuclear Complexes

Coupling between two Ru(bda) catalysts bridged by a trans-dicyano complex

We have prepared two trimetallic complexes [{Ru(bda)(DMSO)(μ-CN)}2Ru(L)4] (with bda = 2,2'-bipyridine-6,6'-dicarboxylate) where two {Ru(bda)} centers are bridged by a cyanide complex of the trans-Ru(L)4CN2 family (with L = pyridine and 4-tert-butylpyridine). The complex [{Ru(bda)(DMSO)(μ-CN)}2Ru(py)4] is fully soluble in aqueous solution and is a catalyst for the oxidation of water both chemically, using Ce(IV) at pH = 1 as the terminal oxidant, and electrochemically. Both reactions are first order in the complex and the resting state of the catalyst is the [RuVRuIII(py)4RuIV]2+ redox state. Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies together with (TD)DFT calculations show that the coupling between the Ru(bda) fragments for the [RuIIIRuII(py)4RuIII]2+ and [RuIVRuII(py)4RuIV]2+ redox states is very weak, but significant for the [RuVRuII(py)4RuIV]2+ ion due to the orientation of the orbitals involved. This coupling affects the reactivity of the [RuVRuII(py)4RuIV]2+ redox state, making it a much slower catalyst towards the water oxidation reaction than [RuVRuIII(py)4RuIV]2+.

Different delocalized ranges in mixed valence cyanido-metal-bridged Fe-Ru-Fe complexes controlled by terminal ligand substitution modification

In order to investigate the properties of metal to metal charge transfer (MMCT) influenced by the relative energy level between the bridging unit and the terminal unit, two groups of heterotrimetallic cyanido-metal-bridged complexes, trans-[Cp(dppe)Fe-CN-Ru(MeOpy)4-NC-Fe(dppe)Cp][X]n (1[X]n; n = 2, 3, or 4; X = PF6 or BF4) (Cp = cyclopentadiene, dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, MeOpy = 4-methoxypyridine) and [Cp*(dppe)Fe-CN-Ru(MeOpy)4-NC-Fe(dppe)Cp*] [X]n (2[X]n; Cp* = 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadiene; n = 2, 3, or 4; X = PF6 or BF4) were synthesized and fully characterized. The crystallography data suggest different oxidation sites in the ground state for one-electron oxidation products 13+ and 23+, and the electrochemical and Mössbauer spectra suggest that in the one-electron oxidation compounds 13+, the charge is delocalized all along the trimetal backbone Fe-Ru-Fe, while in 23+, the charge is rather delocalized between the two metal parts Fe-Ru. Further oxidation of N3+ gives N4+ (N = 1 or 2), during which a spin transfer towards the terminal units is observed in both series.

Metal-Metal Charge Transfer Properties of a Series of Trinuclear Fe2 Ru and Corresponding Pentanuclear Fe2 Ru2 Ag Cyanido-Bridged Complexes

A series of trimetallic cyanidometal-bridged compounds [Men Cp(dppe)FeII -(μ-NC)-RuII (MeOpy)4 -(μ-CN)-FeII (dppe)CpMen ] - [PF6 ]2 (N[PF6 ]2 , n=0, N =1; n=1, N=2; n=3, N=3; Cp=cyclopentadiene, dppe=1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, MeOpy=4-methoxypyridine) and their one- and two-electron oxidized compounds N3+ and N4+ were synthesized and characterized. Meanwhile, a series of corresponding linear cyanido-bridged pentanuclear compounds [Men Cp(dppe)FeIII -(μ-NC)-RuII (MeOpy)4 -(μ-NC)-AgI -(μ-CN)-RuII (MeOpy)4 -(μ-CN)-FeIII (dppe)CpMen ][BF4 ]5 (M[BF4 ]5 , n=0, M=4; n=1, M=5; n=3, M=6) were also obtained and well characterized. The investigations suggest that in the trinuclear system there exists remote interaction between the two Fe centers, but no significant interactions exist across the central silver unit between the metals on the two sides of the silver center in the pentanuclear system. In both the trinuclear N4+ and the pentanuclear M5+ complexes, there exists the neighboring RuII →FeIII MM'CT transitions, and the MM'CT energy in the corresponding trinuclear system is higher than those in the pentanuclear system in which no remote metal-metal interaction occurs. Meanwhile, as the substituted methyl groups on the cyclopentadiene increases, the redox potential of the ruthenium in the trinuclear N4+ series increases, but that in the pentanuclear M5+ complexes decreases.

trans-Di-chlorido-tetra-kis-(4-meth-oxy-pyridine-κN)ruthenium(II)

The structure of the title complex, [RuCl2(C6H6NO)4], exhibits point group symmetry . The structure exhibits disorder around a axis. The 4-meth-oxy-pyridine ligands have a propeller-like arrangement around the RuII atom at 52.0 (3)° from the RuN4 plane.

Effects of cis/trans-Configuration and Ligand Substitution of the Cyanidometal Bridge on Metal to Metal Charge Transfer Properties in Mixed Valence Complexes

To investigate the effects of cis/trans-configuration of the cyanidometal bridge and the electron donating ability of the auxiliary ligand on the cyanidometal bridge on metal to metal charge transfer (MMCT) in cyanidometal-bridged mixed valence compounds, two groups of trinuclear cyanidometal-bridged compounds cis/trans-[Cp(dppe)Fe(μ-NC)Ru(4,4'-dmbpy)₂ (μ-CN)Fe(dppe)Cp][PF₆ ]_n (n=2 (cis/trans-1[PF₆ ]₂ ), 3 (cis/trans-1[PF₆ ]₃ ), 4 (cis/trans-1[PF₆ ]₄ )) and cis/trans-[Cp(dppe)Fe(μ-NC)Ru(bpy)₂ (μ-CN)Fe(dppe)Cp][PF₆ ]₃ (cis/trans-2[PF₆ ]₃ ) were synthesized and fully characterized. The experimental results indicate that for these one- and two-electron oxidation mixed valence compounds, the trans-configuration compounds are more beneficial for MMCT than the cis-configuration compounds, and increasing the electron donating ability of the auxiliary ligand on the cyanidometal bridge is also conductive to MMCT. Moreover, compounds cis/trans-1[PF₆ ]_n (n=3, 4) and cis/trans-2[PF₆ ]₃ belong to localized compounds by analyzing the experimental characterization results, supported by the TDDFT calculations.

Does geometry matter? Effect of the ligand position in bimetallic ruthenium polypyridine siblings

In this work, we present the preparation of a complex [(tpy)(bpy)Ru(μ-CN)Ru(py)4(OH2)](PF6)3 (tpy = 2,2',6',2''-terpyridine; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; py = pyridine) that combines a ruthenium chromophore linked to another ruthenium ion that bears a labile position trans to the bridge. Substitution in this position is very attractive, as it allows us to place a quencher trans to the chromophore maximizing the separation between them. This complex allowed us to prepare a family of cyanide-bridged ruthenium polypyridines of general formula [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(μ-CN)Ru(py)4(L)]2/3+ (L = Cl-, NCS-, 4-dimethylaminopyridine or acetonitrile) and compare them with the related complexes [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(μ-CN)Ru(bpy)2(L)]2/3+ where the L ligand lies cis to the bridge. The mixed-valence form of these complexes shows evidence of strong coupling between the ruthenium ions and enhanced delocalization as the redox potential of the {Ru(py)4L} fragment increases. (TD)DFT calculations reproduce very well the experimental spectra of these complexes and indicate that when L = acetonitrile, the hole in the mixed-valence complex is almost equally distributed between both ruthenium ions. For L = DMAP and NCS- the π orbitals of the ligands are mixed with dπ orbitals of the Ru ions, resulting in partial delocalization of the charge on the ligands. The latter result illustrates that the trans configuration of these complexes is well-suited to extend the interaction beyond the bridged ruthenium ions.

Inversion of donor–acceptor roles in photoinduced intervalence charge transfers

Upon MLCT photoexcitation, {(tpy)Ru} becomes the electron acceptor in the mixed valence {(tpy˙⁻)Ru^III−δ-NC-M^II+δ} moiety, reversing its role as the electron donor in the ground-state mixed valence analogue.

Electronic Energy Transduction from {Ru(py)4} Chromophores to Cr(III) Luminophores

Despite the large body of work on {Ru(bpy)₂} sensitizer fragments, the same attention has not been devoted to their {Ru(py)₄} analogues. In this context, we explored the donor-acceptor trans-[Ru(L)₄{(μ-NC)Cr(CN)₅}₂]^4-, where L = pyridine, 4-methoxypyridine, 4-dimethylaminopyridine. We report on the synthesis and the crystal structure as well as the electrochemical, spectroscopical, and photophysical properties of these trimetallic complexes, including transient absorption measurements. We observed emission from chromium-centered d-d states upon illuminating into either MLCT or MM'CT absorptions of {Ru(L)₄} or {Ru-Cr}, respectively. The underlying energy transfer is as fast as 600 fs with quantum efficiencies ranging from 10% to 100%. These results document that {Ru(py)₄} sensitizer fragments are as efficient as {Ru(bpy)₂} in short-range energy transfer scenarios.

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.

Spectroscopic signatures of ligand field states in {Ru(II)(imine)} complexes

Ligand field (LF) states have been present in discussions on the photophysics and photochemistry of ruthenium-iminic chromophores for decades, although there is very little documented direct evidence of them. We studied the picosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy of four {Ru(II)(imine)} complexes that respond to the formula trans-[Ru(L)4(X)2], where L is either pyridine (py) or 4-methoxypyridine (MeOpy) and X is either cyanide or thiocyanate. Dicyano compounds behave as most ruthenium polypyridines and their LF states remain silent. In contrast, in the dithiocyanate complexes we found clear spectroscopic evidence of the participation of LF states in the MLCT decay pathway. These states are of donor and acceptor character simultaneously and this is manifested in the presence of MLCT and LMCT transient absorption bands of similar energy. Spectroelectrochemical techniques supported the interpretation of the absorption features of MLCT states, and DFT methods helped to assign their spectroscopic signatures and provided strong evidence on the nature of LF states.

Assembly of cyanometalate-functionalized phosphotungstates with magnetic properties and bifunctional electrocatalytic activities

Two cyanometalate-functionalized Dawson type phosphotungstates with a “Netherlands windmills” shape have been prepared under conventional reaction conditions. Their magnetic properties and electrocatalytic activity were investigated.

A cyanide-bridged trinuclear Fe(II)-Ru(II)-Fe(II) complex with three stable states: synthesis, crystal structures, electronic couplings and magnetic properties

Treatment of trans-(Ph-tpy)Ru(PPh(3))(CN)(2) (Ph-tpy = 4'-phenyl-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine, PPh(3) = triphenylphosphine) with 2 equiv of Cp(dppe)Fe(NCCH(3))Br (dppe = bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) in the presence of NH(4)PF(6) produced a trinuclear cyanide-bridged complex, trans-[Cp(dppe)Fe(CN)(Ph-tpy)Ru(PPh(3))(CN)Fe(dppe)Cp][PF(6)](2) (1[PF(6)](2)). Its one-electron oxidation product (1[PF(6)](3)) and two-electron-oxidation product (1[PF(6)](4)) were obtained by oxidation with (Cp)(2)FePF(6) and AgPF(6), respectively. Firstly, the crystal structures of the cyanide-bridged complexes with three stable states were fully characterized. The reversible electrochemistry measurement of 1(2)(+) shows the presence of a long range intervalence interaction between the external iron centres. Both 1(3)(+) and 1(4)(+) were considered to be Class II mixed valence complexes according to the classification of Robin and Day. Magnetic analysis indicated the presence of a moderately strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the two remote Fe(III) ions across the Fe-NC-Ru-CN-Fe array in 1(4)(+). This proves that the Ru(II)-dicyano complex is a bridging ligand that can transmit electro- and magneto-communication.

Reactivity and spectroscopy of the {Ru(DMAP)5} fragment: an {Ru(NH3)5} analogue

Reaction of trans-Ru(DMSO)4Cl2 with DMAP (DMAP = 4-dimethylaminopyridine) yields the yellow [Ru(DMAP)6](2+) cation in good yield. The crystal and molecular structure of [Ru(DMAP)6]Cl2.6CH3CH2OH was determined by X-ray diffraction methods. The complex crystallizes in the trigonal R3 space group with a = b = 16.373(1), c = 20.311(1) A, gamma = 120 degrees , and Z = 3 molecules per unit cell. The reaction of [Ru(DMAP)6](2+) in aerobic water gives the red [Ru(III)(DMAP)5(OH)](2+) cation. This complex shows a chemical behavior similar to [Ru(III)(NH3)5Cl](2+) and allows the preparation of a family of [Ru(DMAP)5L](n+) complexes. Their electronic properties indicate that the {Ru(II)(DMAP)5} fragment is a weaker pi-donor than {Ru(II)(NH 3)5}. Our density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that in {Ru(II)(DMAP)5} the DMAP ligands can compete for the pi electron density of the ruthenium making the fragment a weaker pi-donor.

Donor-acceptor interactions and electron transfer in cyano-bridged trinuclear compounds

The NIR donor-acceptor charge transfer (DACT) bands of the series of trinuclear complexes trans-[(NC)5Fe(II/III)(mu-CN)RuIIL4(mu-NC)FeIII(CN)5](5/4-) (L= pyridine, 4-tert-butylpyridine, and 4-methoxypyridine) are analyzed in terms of a simplified molecular orbital picture that reflects the interaction between the donor and acceptor fragments. The degree of electronic coupling between the fragments is estimated by a full fit of the DACT band profiles according to a three-state model inspired in the Mulliken-Hush formalism. The information is complemented with determinations performed on the asymmetric heterotrinuclear species trans-[(NC)5CoIII(mu-CN)RuII(py)4(mu-NC)FeIII(CN)5]4-, whose preparation is reported here for the first time. The analysis of the NIR spectra of the symmetric trans-[(NC)5FeIII(mu-CN)RuIIL4(mu-NC)FeIII(CN)5]4- species reveals a low degree of mixing between the terminal acceptor fragments and the bridging moiety containing RuII, with H12 values between 1.0 x 10(3) and 1.5 x 10(3) cm-1. The reorganization energy contributions seem to be the same for the three species, even when the spectra were recorded in different media. This observation also applies for the CoIII-substituted compound. The computed potential energy surfaces (PES) of the ground state for these complexes show only one stationary point, suggesting that the FeII-RuIII-FeIII (or FeII-RuIII-CoIII) electronic isomers are not thermally accessible. One-electron reduction leads to asymmetric trans-[(NC)5FeII(mu-CN)RuIIL4(mu-NC)FeIII(CN)5]5- compounds with potentially two DACT bands involving the RuII and the FeII donor fragments. These species reveal a similar degree of electronic mixing but the PES shows three minima. We explore the role of the bridging fragment in the long-range thermally induced electron transfer between the distant iron centers. The results suggest that superexchange and hopping might become competitive paths, depending on the substituents in the bridging fragment.

Metal-metal charge transfer and solvatochromism in cyanomanganese carbonyl complexes of ruthenium and osmium

The complexes [(H3N)5Ru(II)(mu-NC)Mn(I)Lx]2+, prepared from [Ru(OH2)(NH3)5]2+ and [Mn(CN)L(x)] {L(x) = trans-(CO)2{P(OPh)3}(dppm); cis-(CO)2(PR3)(dppm), R = OEt or OPh; (PR3)(NO)(eta-C5H4Me), R = Ph or OPh}, undergo two sequential one-electron oxidations, the first at the ruthenium centre to give [(H3N)5Ru(III)(mu-NC)Mn(I)Lx]3+; the osmium(III) analogues [(H3N)5Os(III)(mu-NC)Mn(I)Lx]3+ were prepared directly from [Os(NH3)5(O3SCF3)]2+ and [Mn(CN)Lx]. Cyclic voltammetry and electronic spectroscopy show that the strong solvatochromism of the trications depends on the hydrogen-bond accepting properties of the solvent. Extensive hydrogen bonding is also observed in the crystal structures of [(H3N)5Ru(III)(mu-NC)Mn(I)(PPh3)(NO)(eta-C5H4Me)][PF6]3.2Me2CO.1.5Et2O, [(H3N)5Ru(III)(mu-NC)Mn(I)(CO)(dppm)2-trans][PF6]3.5Me2CO and [(H3N)5Ru(III)(mu-NC)Mn(I)(CO)2{P(OEt)3}(dppm)-trans][PF6]3.4Me2CO, between the amine groups (the H-bond donors) at the Ru(III) site and the oxygen atoms of solvent molecules or the fluorine atoms of the [PF6]- counterions (the H-bond acceptors).

Crystal Structure and Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Hexacyanoosmate(III)

The [Os(III)(CN)6]3- anion is prepared by chemical oxidation in aqueous solution and isolated as yellow prisms of [Ph4P]3[Os(III)(CN)6].6H2O (1). This species crystallizes in the triclinic space group P with cell parameters a = 13.7609(11) A, b = 16.2275(13) A, c = 17.0895(14) A, alpha = 91.4040(10) degrees , beta = 109.3600(10) degrees , gamma = 102.3970(10) degrees , V = 3497.4(5) A(3), and Z = 2. The slightly distorted octahedral moiety displays Os-C and C-N bond lengths that average 2.058 and 1.146 A, respectively. Spin-orbit-coupling splitting of the ground-state term dominates the NIR region of the electronic spectrum and the magnetic behavior of 1. The experimental information points to higher spin delocalization over the coordinated cyanides than in [Fe(III)(CN)6]3-.

Dinuclear Cyano-Bridged CoIII−FeII Complexes as Precursors for Molecular Mixed-Valence Complexes of Higher Nuclearity

The preparation and characterization of a series of trinuclear mixed-valence cyano-bridged Co(III)-Fe(II)-Co(III) compounds derived from known dinuclear [[L(n)Co(III)(mu-NC)]Fe(II)(CN)(5)](-) complexes (L(n)() = N(5) or N(3)S(2) n-membered pendant amine macrocycle) are presented. All of the new trinuclear complexes were fully characterized spectroscopically (UV-vis, IR, and (13)C NMR). Complexes exhibiting a trans and cis arrangement of the Co-Fe-Co units around the [Fe(CN)(6)](4-) center are described (i.e., cis/trans-[{L(n)Co(III)(mu-NC)](2)Fe(II)(CN)(4)](2+)), and some of their structures are determined by X-ray crystallography. Electrochemical experiments revealed an expected anodic shift of the Fe(III/II) redox potential upon addition of a tripositively charged [Co(III)L(n)] moiety. The Co(III/II) redox potentials do not change greatly from the di- to the trinuclear complex, but rather behave in a fully independent and noncooperative way. In this respect, the energies and extinction coefficients of the MMCT bands agree with the formal existence of two mixed-valence Fe(II)-CN-Co(III) units per molecule. Solvatochromic experiments also indicated that the MMCT band of these compounds behaves as expected for a class II mixed-valence complex. Nevertheless, its extinction coefficient is dramatically increased upon increasing the solvent donor number.

Theoretical Study of the Remote Control of Hydrogen Bond Strengths in Donor-Bridge-Acceptor Systems: Principles for Designing Effective Bridges with Substituent Tuning

Remote control of hydrogen bond strengths has been studied based on conjugated donor-bridge-acceptor (pyrrole-bridge-imine) systems. The neutral and protonated states of the imine can change the hydrogen bonding ability of the pyrrole because, in the protonated state, significant partial intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) is induced that causes partial delocalization of the positive charge onto the pyrrole moiety. An efficient bridge, regardless of its length, should help electrons to flow out of pyrrole. A previously developed design strategy for the bridge (low bridge HOMO/LUMO) leads to the study of cyano- and fluoro-substituted conjugated systems. Substitution positions are found to be of key importance for maximizing the protonation-induced response from the donor-bridge-acceptor systems. Our results not only help to identify useful bridge substitution patterns, but also highlight interesting issues regarding the bridge conformation and the fluorine lone-pair effect.

Synthesis and Properties of Cobalt(III) Complexes of 4-Substituted Pyridine-Capped Dioxocyclams

Cobalt(III) acetate and cyanide complexes of a series of 5,12-dioxocyclams capped across the 1,8-position by 4-substituted pyridines or pyrazine were synthesized and fully characterized. Both the spectroscopic and structural parameters for these complexes were remarkably insensitive to the electronic nature of the capping group, which ranged from the pi-accepting pyrazine group to the sigma-donating 4-[(dimethylamino)phenyl]pyridyl group. All of the complexes underwent an irreversible, one-electron reduction [Co(III)-->Co(II)] at potentials ranging from -0.95 V vs saturated calomel electrode (SCE) for the pyrazine-capped cobalt acetate complex to -1.36 V vs SCE for the pyridine-capped cobalt cyanide complexes. Pyridine-capped cobalt(III) cyanide complex underwent reaction with Rh2(OAc)4 and ruthenium(II) phthalocyanine[bis(benzonitrile)] to form tetrametallic and trimetallic complexes through coordination bridging by the cyanide nitrogen lone pair. These complexes represent two quite different structural types for cyanide-bridged polymetallics. Complex has a relatively long (2.192 A) cyanide N-to-Rh bond, and the CN-Rh bond angle (157.6 degrees) is strongly distorted from linear. In contrast, complex has a substantially shortened cyanide N-to-Ru bond (2.017 A) and an almost linear arrangement along the entire bridging axis of the molecule.