Light Activated Release of Nitrile Ligands from trans-Ru(L)(PPh₃)₂(nitrile) Complexes

Abstract

A series of trans-RuL(PPh 3 ) 2 (nitrile) and {RuL(PPh 3 ) 2 }. 2 -μ-(nitrile)-based complexes [where L = 2,2′-(3,4-diphenylpyrrole-2,5-diyl)dipyridine (dpp), di(pyridin-2-yl)isoindoline-1,3-diimine (bpi), or 4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-6-phenyl-2,2′-bipyridine (Pbpy); and nitrile = 1,4-dibenzontirile, 4-ethynylbenzonitrile, or dicyanamide] were synthesized and characterized, and their electrochemical and photochemical behaviors were investigated. Those complexes that contained a significant nitrile contribution to their 3 MLLCT show a release of their nitrile ligand (when L = dpp or Pbpy and the nitrile ligand = 4-dibenzontirile, or 4ethynylbenzonitrile) with dissociation constants up to 8.09 × 10 −4 s −1 .