In Situ FT-IR Spectroelectrochemistry Reveals Mechanistic Insights into Nitric Oxide Release from Ruthenium(II) Nitrosyl Complexes

Ruthenium(II) tetraamine nitrosyl complexes with N-heterocyclic ligands are known for their potential as nitric oxide (NO•) donors, capable of releasing NO• through either direct photodissociation or one-electron reduction of the Ru(II)NO+ center. This study delivers a novel insight into the one-electron reduction mechanism for the model complex trans-[RuII(NO)(NH3)4(py)]3+ (RuNOpy, py = pyridine) in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.4). In situ FT-IR spectroelectrochemistry reveals that the pyridine ligand is readily released upon one-electron reduction of the nitrosyl complex, a finding supported by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) and electrochemistry coupled to mass spectrometry (EC-MS), which detect free pyridine in solution. However, direct evidence of NO• release from RuNOpy as the primary step following reduction was not observed. Interestingly, FT-IR results indicate that the isomers of the nitrosyl complex, cis-[Ru(NO)(NH3)4(OH)]+ and trans-[Ru(NO)(NH3)4(OH)]+, are formed following reduction and pyridine labilization, initiating an outer-sphere electron transfer process that triggers a chain electron transfer reaction. Finally, nitric oxide is liberated as an end product, arising from the reduction of the hydroxyl isomer complexes cis-[Ru(NO)(NH3)4(OH)]2+ and trans-[Ru(NO)(NH3)4(OH)]2+. This study provides new insights into the reduction mechanism and transformation pathways of ruthenium nitrosyl complexes, contributing to our understanding of their potential as NO• donors.

Ruthenium-nitrosyl complexes as NO-releasing molecules and potential anticancer drugs

The synthesis of new types of mono- and polynuclear ruthenium nitrosyl complexes is driving progress in the field of NO generation for a variety of applications. Light-induced Ru-NO bond dissociation...

Linear and Bent Nitric Oxide Ligand Binding in an Asymmetric Butterfly Complex:

Two synthetic approaches to install metallodithiolate ligands on molybdenum centers using the synthons [Mo₂(CH₃CN)₁₀]⁴⁺ and (N₂S₂)Co(NO) [N₂S₂ = N,N-bis(2-mercaptoethyl)-1,4-diazacycloheptane and NO = nitric oxide], or [Mo(NO)₂(CH₃CN)₄]²⁺ (CH₃CN = acetonitrile) and [(N₂S₂)Co]₂ lead to a bis-nitrosylated, trimetallic dication, CoMoCo'. This unique asymmetric butterfly complex, with S = 1, has a bent NO within the small {Co(NO)}⁸ wing (denoted as Co), reflecting Co^III(NO^-), and is S-bridged to a linear {Mo(NO)}⁶ diamagnetic unit. The latter is further S-bridged to a pentacoordinate (N₂S₂)Co^III(CH₃CN) donor in the larger wing and is the origin of the two unpaired electrons, denoted as Co'. The asymmetry in Mo-Co distances, 3.33 Å in the Co wing and 2.73 Å in the Co' wing, indicated a Mo-Co' bonding interaction. The transfer of NO from (N₂S₂)Co(NO) in the former path is needed to cleave the strong quadruple bond in [Mo≣Mo]⁴⁺, with the energetic cost compensated for via a one-electron bond between Mo and Co', as indicated by natural bonding orbital analysis.

Evidence for a photoinduced isonitrosyl isomer in ruthenium dinitrosyl compounds

Photo-induced NO rotation from N-bound (blue) to O-bound (red) with blue light at 100 K in the compound [Ru(NO)₂(PCy₃)₂Cl]BF₄.

Generalization of the Tolman electronic parameter: the metal–ligand electronic parameter and the intrinsic strength of the metal–ligand bond

The MLEP is a new, generally applicable measure of the metal–ligand bond strength based on vibrational spectroscopy, replacing the TEP.

Photocrystallography and IR spectroscopy of light-induced linkage NO isomers in [RuBr(NO)2(PCyp3)2]BF4

One single photo-induced linkage NO isomer (PLI) is detected and characterized in the dinitrosyl pentacoordinated compound [RuBr(NO)2(PCyp3)2]BF4 by a combination of photocrystallographic and IR analysis. In the ground state, the molecule adopts a trigonal–bipyramidal structure with the two NO ligands almost linear with angles Ru—N1—O1 = 168.92 (16), Ru—N2—O2 = 166.64 (16)°, and exactly equal distances of Ru—N = 1.7838 (17) and O—N = 1.158 (2) Å. After light irradiation of 405 nm at T = 10 K, the angle of Ru—N2—O2 changes to 114.2 (6)° by rotation of the O atom towards the Br ligand with increased distances of Ru—N2 = 1.992 (6) and N2—O2 = 1.184 (8) Å, forming a bent κN bonded configuration. Using IR spectroscopy, the optimal wavelength and maximum population of 39 (1)% of the PLI is determined. In the ground state (GS), the two symmetric νs(NO) and asymmetric νas(NO) vibrations are measured at 1820 and 1778 cm−1, respectively. Upon photo-irradiation, the detection of only one new vibrational ν(NO) stretching band at 1655 cm−1, assigned to the antisymmetric coupled vibration mode and shifted to lower wavenumbers by −123 cm−1, supports the photocrystallographic result. These experimental results are supported by additional DFT calculations, which reproduce the structural parameters and vibrational properties of both the ground state and the photo-induced linkage isomer well. Especially the experimentally characterized molecular structure of the PLI state corresponds to an energy minimum in the calculations; the stabilization of the bent κN bonded configuration of the PLI state originates from specific intramolecular orbital overlap.