Two mononuclear ruthenium complexes [RuL(pic)3] (1) and [RuL(bpy)(pic)] (2) (H2L = 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid, pic = 4-picoline, bpy =2,2'-bipyridine) have been synthesized and fully characterized. Both complexes could promote water oxidation chemically and photochemically. Compared with other known ruthenium-based water oxidation catalysts using [Ce(NH4)2(NO3)6] (Ce(IV)) as the oxidant in solution at pH 1.0, complex 1 is one of the most active catalysts yet reported with an initial rate of 0.23 turnover s(-1). Under acidic conditions, the equatorial 4-picoline in complex 1 dissociates first. In addition, ligand exchange in 1 occurs when the Ru(III) state is reached. Based on the above observations and MS measurements of the intermediates during water oxidation by 1 using Ce(IV) as oxidant, [RuL(pic)2(H2O)](+) is proposed as the real water oxidation catalyst.

A stable 1 : 1 inclusion complex of Ru(bpy)(3)-MV(2+) with cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) is formed in aqueous solution; upon light irradiation, a long lived (tau approximately 2 micros) charge-separated state Ru(3+)-MV(+ )-CB[8] is observed.

A stable 1:1:1 inclusion complex of Ru(bpy)(3)-phenol (1), MV(2+) and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) is formed in aqueous solution. In the presence of triethanolamine (TEOA), a light-induced formation of unusual partner radical trimer 1-(MV(+*))(2)-CB[8] has been observed for the first time.

The host-guest chemistry of systems containing a molecular triad Ru(bpy) 3-MV (2+)-naphthol complex (denoted as Ru (2+)-MV (2+)-Np, 1) and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) is investigated by NMR, ESI-MS, UV-vis, and electrochemistry. The Ru (2+)-MV (2+)-Np guest and CB[8] host can form a stable 1:1 inclusion complex, in which the naphthalene residue is back-folded and inserted together with the viologen residue into the cavity of CB[8]. The selective binding of Ru (2+)-MV (2+)-Np guest with beta-CD and CB[8] host is also investigated. We find that CB[8] binds the Ru (2+)-MV (2+)-Np guest stronger than beta-CD. Upon light irradiation, a MV (+*) radical cation stabilized in the cavity of CB[8] accompanied by the naphthalene residue has been observed. This novel system may open a new way for design and synthesis of photoactive molecular devices.