Synthesis and Characterization of Linear (CH)8-Bridged Bimetallic Ruthenium Complexes

A Dibenzotetrathiafulvalene-Bridged Bis(alkenylruthenium) Complex and Its One- and Two-Electron-Oxidized Forms

We report on the synthesis of the new bis(alkenylruthenium) complex DBTTF-(ViRu)2 with a longitudinally extended, π-conjugated dibenzotetrathiafulvalene (DBTTF) bridge, characterized by multinuclear NMR, IR, and UV/vis spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Cyclic and square-wave voltammetry revealed that DBTTF-(ViRu)2 undergoes four consecutive oxidations. IR, UV/vis/near-IR, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy indicate that the first oxidation involves the redox-noninnocent DBTTF bridge, while the second oxidation is biased toward one of the peripheral styrylruthenium entities, thereby generating an electronically coupled mixed-valent state ({Ru}-CH═CH)•+-DBTTF•+-(CH═CH-{Ru}) [{Ru} = Ru(CO)Cl(PiPr3)2]. The latter is apparently in resonance with the ({Ru}-CH═CH)•+-DBTTF-(CH═CH-{Ru})•+ and ({Ru}-CH═CH)-DBTTF2+-(CH═CH-{Ru}) forms, which are calculated to lie within 19 kJ/mol. Higher oxidized forms proved too unstable for further characterization. The reaction of DBTTF-(ViRu)2 with the strong organic acceptors 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone, tetracyano-p-benzoquinodimethane (TCNQ), and F4TCNQ resulted in formation of the DBTTF-(ViRu)2•+ radical cation, as shown by various spectroscopic techniques. Solid samples of these compounds were found to be highly amorphous and electrically insulating.

Enabling Valence Delocalization in Iron(III) Macrocyclic Complexes through Ring Unsaturation

The complexes [FeIII(HMC)(C2DMA)2]CF3SO3 ([2]OTf) and [FeIII(HMTI)(C2Y)2]CF3SO3 ([3a-c]OTf) have been prepared and thoroughly characterized (HMC = 5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane; HMTI = 5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-1,3,8,10-tetraene; Y = Fc (ferrocenyl, [3a]OTf), 4-(N,N-dimethyl)anilino (DMA, [3b]OTf), or 4-(N,N-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)anilino (TPA, [3c]OTf); OTf- = CF3SO3-)). Vibrational and electronic absorption spectroelectrochemical analyses following one-electron oxidation of the ethynyl substituent Y revealed evidence of strong coupling in the resultant mixed valent species for all HMTI-based complexes. However, the analogous mixed valent ion based on [2]OTf appeared to be more localized. Thus, the tetra-imino macrocycle HMTI has enabled significant valence delocalization along the -C2-FeIII-C2- bridge. Electron paramagnetic resonance and Mössbauer spectroscopic studies of [3b]OTf reveal that the π-acidity of HMTI lowers the energy of the FeIII dπ orbitals compared to the purely σ-donating HMC. This observation provides a basis for the interpretation of the macrocycle-dependent valence (de)localization.

Hydrogenating an organometallic carbon chain: buten-yn-diyl (CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CHC[triple bond, length as m-dash]C) as a missing link

The sequential reaction of [Ru(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CH)Cl(CO)2(PPh3)2] with [Ru(CO)2(PPh3)3], and N-chlorosuccinimide affords the binuclear tetracarbido complex [Ru2(μ-C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CC[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)Cl2(CO)4(PPh3)4]. This may be compared with the first example of a butenyndiyl bridged bimetallic complex [Ru2(μ-CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CHC[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)Cl2(CO)4(PPh3)4] which is obtained from the reaction of [Ru(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CH)Cl(CO)2(PPh3)2] with [RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3] followed by carbonylation. Characterisational data are discussed with reference to constituent model complexes [Ru(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CH)Cl(CO)2(PPh3)2] and [Ru(CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CH2)Cl(CO)2(PPh3)2] in addition to DFT analysis of the bonding in the complexes [Ru2(μ-L)Cl2(CO)4(PMe3)4] (L = C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C, CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CHC[triple bond, length as m-dash]C, CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CH-CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CH). A range of other tetracarbido complexes which may be prepared from [RuCl(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CH)(CO)2(PPh3)2] is also described and includes [RuAu(μ-C4)Cl(CO)3(PPh3)3], [RuIr(μ-C4)Cl(CO)3(PPh3)4], [RuIr(μ-C4)H(NCMe)(CO)3(PPh3)4]BF4, [RuIr(μ-C4)Cl(η2-O2)(CO)3(PPh3)4], [Ru2Hg(μ-C4)2Cl2(CO)4(PPh3)4], [Ru2Pt(μ-C4)2Cl2(CO)4(PPh3)6] and [Ru2(μ-C4)HCl(CO)4(PPh3)4].

Diruthenium(ii)-capped oligothienylethynyl bridged highly soluble organometallic wires exhibiting long-range electronic coupling

Organometallic molecular wires with π-conjugation along their molecular backbones are of considerable interest for application in molecular-scale electronics. In this regard, thienylethynyl-based π-conjugated oligomers of three, five and seven thienylethynyl units with -C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-H termini have been successfully synthesized through stepwise Pd(0)/Cu(i)-catalyzed Sonogashira coupling. The corresponding highly soluble diruthenium(ii) diacetylide complexes (O1-Ru2, O3-Ru2, O5-Ru2 and O7-Ru2, respectively) have been prepared by the reaction of cis-Ru(dppe)2Cl2 and NaPF6 in DCM with the corresponding rigid rod-like thienylethynyl oligomers with one, three, five and seven thienylethynyl π-conjugated segments containing alkynyl termini (O1, O3, O5 and O7). These Ru(ii)-Cl capped diacetylide complexes have been further functionalized by incorporating a phenylacetynyl moiety to afford [Ru(ii)-C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-Ph]-capped diacetylide organometallic wires (O1-Ru2-Ph, O3-Ru2-Ph, O5-Ru2-Ph and O7-Ru2-Ph). The photophysical properties of the highly soluble thienylethynyl-based oligomers and Ru(ii)-organometallic wires have been explored to understand their electronic properties. Electrochemical studies of the binuclear ruthenium(ii)-alkynyl complexes showed highly interesting results, revealing long-range electrochemical communication between the two remote Ru(ii) termini connected even with five and seven thienylethynyl units. DFT computational studies further support the long range electrochemical communication between the redox active metal termini through heavy participation of the thienylethynyl bridge in the corresponding mono-oxidized mixed valence species of the organometallic wire-like complexes.

The stepwise generation of multimetallic complexes based on a vinylbipyridine linkage and their photophysical properties

The versatile rhenium complex [ReCl(CO)₃(bpyC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CH)] (HC[triple bond, length as m-dash]Cbpy = 5-ethynyl-2,2'-bipyridine) is used to generate a series of bimetallic complexes through the hydrometallation of [MHCl(CO)(BTD)(PPh₃)₂] (M = Ru, Os; BTD = 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole). The ruthenium complex [Ru{CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CH-bpyReCl(CO)₃}Cl(BTD)(CO)(PPh₃)₂] was characterised structurally. Ligand exchange reactions with bifunctional linkers bearing oxygen and sulfur donors provide access to tetra- and pentametallic complexes such as [{M{CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CH-bpyReCl(CO)₃}(CO)(PPh₃)₂}₂(S₂CNC₄H₈NCS₂)] and Fe[C₅H₄CO₂M{CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CH-bpyReCl(CO)₃}(CO)(PPh₃)₂]₂. The effect of the group 8 metal on the photophysical properties of the rhenium centre was investigated using the complexes [Ru{CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CH-bpyReCl(CO)₃}Cl(BTD)(CO)(PPh₃)₂] and [M{CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CH-bpyReCl(CO)₃}{S₂P(OEt)₂}(CO)(PPh₃)₂] (M = Ru, Os). This revealed the quenching of the rhenium-based emission in favour of weak radiative processes based on the Ru and Os centres. The potential for exploiting this effect is illustrated by the reaction of [Ru{CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CH-bpyReCl(CO)₃}Cl(CO)(BTD)(PPh₃)₂] with carbon monoxide, which results in a 5-fold fluorescence enhancement in the dicarbonyl product, [Ru{CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CH-bpyReCl(CO)₃}Cl(CO)₂(PPh₃)₂], as the quenching effect is disrupted.

Asymmetric oxidation of vinyl- and ethynyl terthiophene ligands in triruthenium complexes

Newly synthesized open-triangle triruthenium vinyl and ethynyl terthiophene complexes exhibit stepwise laterally localized oxidation processes, as revealed by UV-vis-NIR and IR spectroelectrochemistry.

Organometallic chemistry of ethynyl boronic acid MIDA ester, HCCB(O2CCH2)2NMe

The reactions of HCCBMIDA (BMIDA = B(O₂CCH₂)₂NMe) with a range of ruthenium complexes examples of σ-alkynyl, σ-alkenyl and vinylidene complexes bearing 4-coordinate boron substituents.

Synthesis and Characterization of a (CH=CH)6-Bridged Heterobimetallic Ferrocene–Ruthenium Complex

A heterobimetallic ferrocene–ruthenium complex with a conjugated vinyl (CH=CH)6 chain has been synthesised by treatment of the mononuclear complex Fc(CH=CH)C(CH3)=(CH)4=C(CH3)(CH)2C ≡ CH with [RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3]. Its UV-Vis absorption spectrum showed an obvious redshift and its electrochemical behaviour confirmed the existence of an electronic interaction between ruthenium and ferrocene, although the organic bridging chain included such a long carbon–carbon double bond unit.

Wirelike Dinuclear Ruthenium Complexes Connected by Bis(ethynyl)oligothiophene

Preparation and characterization of a series of rodlike binuclear ruthenium polyynediyl complexes capped with redox-active organometallic fragments [(bph)(PPh3)2Ru]+ (bph=N-(benzoyl)-N'-(picolinylidene)-hydrazine) or [(Phtpy)(PPh3)2Ru]2+ (Phtpy=4'-phenyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine) have been carried out. The length of the molecular rods is extended by successive insertion of 2,5-thiophene or 1,4-phenylene spacers in the bridging ligands. Oxidation of thiophene-containing Ru2II,II complexes induces isolation of stable Ru2II,III or Ru2III,III species. Electrochemical and UV-vis-NIR spectral studies demonstrate that the polyynediyl bridges with 2,5-thiophene units are more favorable for metal-metal charge transfer compared with those containing the same number of 1,4-phenylene units. Successive increase of thiophene spacers in mixed-valence complexes {RuII}-CC(C4H2S)mCC-{RuIII} (m=1, 2, 3) induced a smooth transition from almost electronic delocalization (m=1) to localization (m=3). For binuclear ruthenium complexes with intramolecular electron transfer transmitted across nine Ru-C and C-C bonds, electronic conveying capability follows {Ru}-CC(CC)2CC-{Ru}>{Ru}-CC(C4H2S)CC-{Ru}>{Ru}-CC(C6H4)CC-{Ru}>{Ru}-CC(CH=CH)2CC-{Ru}. It is revealed that molecular wires capped with electron-rich (bph)(PPh3)2Ru endgroups are much more favorable for electronic communication than the corresponding electron-deficient (Phtpy)(PPh3)2Ru-containing counterparts. The intermetallic electronic communication is fine-tuned by modification of both the bridging spacers and the ancillary ligands.