Synthesis and Characterization of Ruthenacarborane Complexes Incorporating ChelatingN-Donor Ligands: Unexpected Luminescence from the Complex [3-CO-3,3-{κ2-Me2N(CH2)2NMe2}-closo-3,1,2-RuC2B9H11

Abstract

A synthetic methodology using double carbonyl substitution of the starting tricarbonyl complex [3,3,3-(CO)(3)-closo-3,1,2-RuC(2)B(9)H(11)] (1) with 2 mol equiv of the reagent Me(3)NO has been employed to afford ruthenacarborane complexes with chelating N-donor ligands. Three of these complexes, [3-CO-3,3-[kappa(2)-4,4'-R(2)-2,2'-(NC(5)H(3))(2)]-closo-3,1,2-RuC(2)B(9)H(11)] (3a, R = H; 3b, R = (CH(2))(8)Me; 3c, R = Bu(t)), comprise 2,2'-bipyridyl ligands with hydrogen, n-nonyl, or t-butyl groups in the 4,4'-positions of the rings, respectively. Photophysical analysis revealed no substantial luminescent activity, but the complexes are electrochemically active, undergoing sequential (reversible and quasi-reversible) one-electron reductions, the second of which likely precipitating a ligand displacement. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments revealed an irreversible one-electron oxidation (E(pa) approximately 0.9 V) in MeCN, on the other hand, followed by rapid CO substitution by the solvent and reversible secondary reduction (E(1/2) approximately 0.1 V). The primary redox couple became quasi-reversible in CH(2)Cl(2), and spectroelectrochemical analysis of complex 3c provided evidence of a closo --> isocloso structural modification upon oxidation. An analogue of these complexes employing the TMEDA (N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine) ligand, [3-CO-3,3-[kappa(2)-Me(2)N(CH(2))(2)NMe(2)]-closo-3,1,2-RuC(2)B(9)H(11)] (4), was synthesized using the same methodology. Cyclic voltammetric measurements displayed a reversible metal-based one-electron oxidation whether in CH(2)Cl(2) or MeCN, with no indication of subsequent CO substitution or a similar closo --> isocloso adjustment. Complex 4 was unexpectedly weakly luminescent (lambda(em) = 360 nm) in THF (tetrahydrofuran) at ambient temperatures, demonstrating a more intense phosphorescent emission in MeTHF (2-methyltetrahydrofuran) glass at 77 K (lambda(em) = 450 nm, tau(450) = 0.77 ms). The X-ray crystallographic structures of complexes 3a and 4 are reported along with spectroscopic IR, NMR ((1)H, (13)C, (11)B), UV-vis absorption, EPR, and CV data.