Convergent study of Ru–ligand interactions through QTAIM, ELF, NBO molecular descriptors and TDDFT analysis of organometallic dyes

Abstract

We report a theoretical study of a series of Ru complexes of interest in dye-sensitised solar cells, in organic light-emitting diodes, and in the war against cancer. Other metal centres, such as Cr, Co, Ni, Rh, Pd, and Pt, have been included for comparison purposes. The metal–ligand trends in organometallic chemistry for those compounds are shown synergistically by using three molecular descriptors: quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), electron localisation function (ELF) and second-order perturbation theory analysis of the natural bond orbital (NBO). The metal–ligand bond order is addressed through both delocalisation index (DI) of QTAIM and fluctuation index (λ) of ELF. Correlation between DI and λ for Ru–N bond in those complexes is introduced for the first time. Electron transfer and stability was also assessed by the second-order perturbation theory analysis of the NBO. Electron transfer from the lone pair NBO of the ligands toward the antibonding lone pair NBO of the metal plays a relevant role in stabilising the complexes, providing useful insights into understanding the effect of the ‘expanded ligand’ principle in supramolecular chemistry. Finally, absorption wavelengths associated to the metal-to-ligand charge transfer transitions and the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)--lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) characteristics were studied by time-dependent density functional theory.