Heteroleptic Ruthenium Complexes Research Articles

Terpyridine Based Heteroleptic Ruthenium Complexes: Influence of Donor and Acceptor Ligands in Photosensitization

AbstractWe report heteroleptic ruthenium complexes of terpyridine (tpy) ligands with directly linked carboxylic acid anchors. These complexes feature methyl or methoxy‐substituted 4′−Phtpy as donor ligands. We prepared these heteroleptic complexes from the ruthenium (II) precursor via a milder route to preclude the homoleptic complex formation. The donor−acceptor arrangement of tpy ligands in these ruthenium complexes renders visible light absorption giving metal and ligand‐to‐ligand charge transfer excitations at c.a. 490 nm. We evaluate the effect of the tpy donor substituents on the light‐harvesting ability in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) and compare their photosensitizing ability with heteroleptic complexes bearing phenyl spacer at the acceptor end. Further, scrutinizing their photovoltaic performance, we studied their electron transfer kinetics in DSSCs using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. This paper presents the structure‐photosensitization relationship of these heteroleptic ruthenium complexes through a combined experimental and computational approach.

Heteroleptic ruthenium(ii) complexes featuringN-heterocyclic carbene-based C^N donor sets for solar energy conversion

Single isomers of heteroleptic ruthenium(ii) complexes with anN-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-based C^N donor-set and NCS ligands intransconfigurations are isolated. One of them depicted photovoltaic efficiency of ∼50% of the standardN3dye under similar conditions.

Electrocatalytic water oxidation by heteroleptic ruthenium complexes of 2,6-bis(benzimidazolyl)pyridine Scaffold: a mechanistic investigation.

Three monomeric ruthenium complexes with anionic ligands [RuII(L)(L1)(DMSO)][ClO4] (1), [RuII(L)(L2)(DMSO)] [PF6] (2), and [RuII(L)(L3)(DMSO)][PF6] (3) [L = pyrazine carboxylate, L1 = 2,6-bis(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)pyridine, L2 = 4,5-dmbimpy = 2,6-bis(5,6-dimethyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)pyridine, L3 = 4-Fbimpy = 2,6-bis(5-fluoro-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)pyridine, DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide] as electrocatalysts for water oxidation are reported herein. The single crystal X-ray structure of the complexes reveals the presence of a DMSO molecule, which is supposed to be the labile group undergoing water exchange under the experimental condition of electrocatalysis. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) study shows the appearance of the catalytic wave for water oxidation at Ru(IV/V) oxidation. LSV, CV, and bulk electrolysis technique has been used to study the redox properties of the complexes and their electrocatalytic activity. A systematic variation on the ligand scaffold has been found to display a profound effect on the rate of electrocatalytic oxygen evolution. Electrochemical and theoretical (density functional theory) studies support the O-O bond formation during water oxidation passes through water nucleophilic attack (WNA) for all the ruthenium complexes. At pH 1, the maximum turnover frequency (TOFmax) has been experimentally obtained as 17556.25 s-1, 31648.41 s-1, and 39.69 s-1 for complexes 1, 2, and 3, respectively, from the foot of wave analysis (FOWA). The high value of TOFmax for complex 2 indicates its efficiency as an electrocatalyst for water oxidation in a homogeneous medium.

Synthesis, characterization, structural and photophysical properties of heteroleptic ruthenium complexes containing 2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)quinoline ligand towards electrocatalytic CO2 reduction

Synthesis, characterization, structural and photophysical properties of heteroleptic ruthenium complexes containing 2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)quinoline ligand towards electrocatalytic CO2 reduction

Chemical and electrochemical water oxidation catalyzed by heteroleptic Ru(III) complexes of anionic 2,6 pyridine dicarboxylate ligand: Experimental and theoretical study

Herein we report two new mononuclear heteroleptic Ruthenium complexes, 1 and 2 with anionic N, O donor pyridine dicarboxylate (pdc2-) ligand along with neutral bipyridine moieties. The general formula of the complexes are [RuIII(pdc2-)(L1)Cl](1), [RuIII(pdc2-)(L2)Cl](2) (Where L1 = bipyridine, L2 = 4,4′-dimethylbipyridine). Synthesis, characterization and water oxidation catalytic properties of both complexes were investigated. A combined theoretical (DFT) and experimental study were carried out to investigate the catalytic (in presence of CAN) and electrocatalytic activity of 1 and 2 for water oxidation in aqueous solution at pH ∼ 1. During electrocatalysis, the catalytic activity wave has been detected in acetonitrile/water 1:9 (v/v) solution in the range 1.39–1.41 V vs SCE. pH based electrochemistry reveals that, water oxidation (at pH = 1) takes place via sequential proton-electron transfer process to form a RuV = O moiety, which oxidises water through I2M pathway. For water oxidation by CAN, both the molecules show appreciably high TOF values 3.47971 x10-4 s−1 and 1.183 × 10–3 s−1 for 1 and 2 respectively in comparison to similar molecules [1,2].

Synthesis and Computational Investigations of Ruthenium(II) Complexes Containing Hydrazine Schiff Base Ligands

Three new heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complexes containing hydrazine schiff base as ligands were synthesized and characterized by using elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1H, 13C NMR, and mass spectroscopic techniques. FT-IR study showed that the substituted phenylhydrazine ligands behave as a monoanionic bidentate O and N donors (L) coordinate to ruthenium via the deprotonated phenolic oxygen and the azomethine nitrogen. They possess excellent thermal stabilities, evident from the thermal decomposition temperatures. Absorption, emission and electrochemical measurements were carried out and the structures of the synthesized complex were optimized using density functional theory (DFT). The molecular geometry, the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energies, Mulliken atomic charges and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) of the molecules are determined using B3LYP method and standard 6-311++G (d, p) basis set.

Colorimetric fluoride detection in dimethyl sulfoxide using a heteroleptic ruthenium(ii) complex with amino and amide groups: X-ray crystallographic and spectroscopic analyses.

A bis-heteroleptic ruthenium(ii) complex, [Ru(Hdpa)2(H2pia)]X2 (1·X2; X = Cl, OTf, or F; Hdpa = di-2-pyridylamine; H2pia = 2-pycolinamide; OTf− = CF3SO3−), was synthesized and spectroscopically and crystallographically characterized. The crystal structures of 1·Cl2·2.5H2O and 1·F2·2EtOH revealed essentially identical geometries for the 12+ dication; however, the dihedral angle between the two pyridyl groups in the Hdpa ligands, which represented the degree of bending of the bent conformation, was affected by hydrogen-bonding interactions between the NH group and counterions. In 1·F2·2EtOH, one of the Hdpa ligands had an unusually smaller dihedral angle (15.8°) than the others (29.9°–35.0°). The two NH groups of each Hdpa ligand and the NH2 group of the H2pia ligand in 12+ acted as receptors for F− anion recognition via hydrogen-bonding interactions in a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution, and the reaction showed an unambiguous color change in the visible region. Upon the addition of tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride to the red DMSO solution of 1·(OTf)2·H2O, the solution turned dark brown. 1H NMR analysis and absorption spectroscopy of the reaction between 12+ and the added F− anions revealed that the F− anions did not distinguish between the two amino groups of Hdpa and the amide group of H2pia, although they were in different environments in the DMSO solution. A tris-F-adduct with 12+, 1·F3−, was formed when sufficient F− anions were present in the solution, despite the presence of four NH protons in 12+. Time-dependent DFT calculations of 12+ and 1·F3− were consistent with their absorption spectra.

Synthesis and Study of the Physical and Photovoltaic Properties of Novel Heteroleptic Ruthenium(II) Complexes Ligated with Highly π-Conjugated Bipyridine Ancillary and Phenanthroline Anchoring Ligand for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Six new heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complexes (JM1–JM6), each bearing a highly π-conjugated bipyridine ancillary ligand (a methoxy-substituted analog (L1) and a phenanthroline-type anchoring ligand (L2) (dcphen or dcvphen; [Ru(L)2(NCS)2][TBA]2; L1 = 4,4′-bis{2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethenyl}-2,2′-bipyridine (dmpbpy), 4,4′-bis{2-(1,1′-biphenyl)-4-ylethenyl}-2,2′-bipyridine (bpbpy), or 4,4′-bis{2-(4′-methoxy-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylethenyl}-2,2′-bipyridine (mbpbpy); L2 = 4,7-dicarboxy-1,10-phenanthroline (dcphen) or 4,7-bis(E-carboxyvinyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (dcvphen)) were synthesized, and their physical and photovoltaic properties were investigated. Various dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated using heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complexes. Ruthenium(II) complex JM1, ligated to dmpbpy (ancillary) and dcphen (anchoring) ligands, exhibited the maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) value of 3.40%, which was approximately 71% of the efficiency exhibited by the commercially available N719-sensitized solar cells. Ruthenium(II) complex JM5, ligated to mbpbpy (ancillary) and dcphen (anchoring) ligands, exhibited the second-best PCE value (2.52%), and ruthenium(II) complex JM3, ligated to bpbpy (ancillary) and dcphen (anchoring) ligands, exhibited a PCE value of 1.45%. It was observed that the PCE values of the DSSCs could be significantly improved by introducing the electron-donating methoxy group at proper positions of the ancillary ligands present in the heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complexes (such as JM1 and JM5).

Light‐Induced Ejection of a Tridentate Ligand from a Ruthenium(II) Complex

AbstractA new heteroleptic ruthenium complex based on a 2,2′;6′,2′′‐terpyridine (tpy) and a thioether‐based tridentate ligand, btap (btap: 2,6‐bis(2‐thioanisyl)pyridine) was synthesized. Under visible light irradiation, this complex in solution in acetonitrile undergoes a photochemical ejection of the thioether ligand leading to [Ru(tpy)CH3CN)3]2+ and the free ligand. The reaction was monitored using NMR and UV‐Vis spectroscopies. This is very probably the first example of a tridentate ligand being expelled by the action of light.

Synthesis of benzimidazole moiety heteroleptic ruthenium complex and use as sensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells

Synthesis of benzimidazole moiety heteroleptic ruthenium complex and use as sensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Photophysical Properties of Heteroleptic Ruthenium(II) Complexes with Functionalized Diimine Ligands

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Photophysical Properties of Heteroleptic Ruthenium(II) Complexes with Functionalized Diimine Ligands

Dye sensitized solar cell-based optoelectronic device using novel [Ru(L1)(L2)(NCS)2] complex

A dye sensitized solar cell-based photodiode was prepared using novel [Ru(L1)(L2)(NCS)2] complex for solar energy and optoelectronic applications. The new heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complex [Ru(L1)(L2)(NCS)2], was synthesized from the reaction of (pyridyl)benzimidazole ligands. The possible usage of [Ru(L1)(L2)(NCS)2] complex in dye synthesized solar cell-based photodiode was investigated using electrical and capacitance characteristics. The device was irradiated under various solar light intensities. The change in photocurrent of the device confirms the photoconducting behavior of prepared device. The device exhibited both the photocapacitance and photoresponse behavior with solar illumination. The obtained optoelectrical results suggest that the studied photodiode with [Ru(L1)(L2)(NCS)2] complex could be used in optoelectronic device for optical switching and controlling applications.

Heteroleptic Ruthenium(II) Complexes with 2,2'-Bipyridines Having Carbonitriles as Anchoring Groups for ZnO Surfaces: Syntheses, Physicochemical Properties, and Applications in Organic Solar Cells.

Heteroleptic ruthenium (II) complexes were used for sensitizing ZnO surfaces in organic solar cells (OSCs) as mediators with photoactive layers. The complexes [Ru(4,4'-X2-bpy)(Mebpy-CN)2]2+ (with X = -CH3, -OCH3 and -N(CH3)2; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; Mebpy-CN = 4-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine-4'-carbonitrile) were synthesized and studied by analytical and spectroscopical techniques. Spectroscopic, photophysical, and electrochemical properties were tuned by changing the electron-donating ability of the -X substituents at the 4,4'-positions of the bpy ring and rationalized by quantum mechanical calculations. These complexes were attached through nitrile groups to ZnO as interfacial layer in an OSC device with a PBDB-T:ITIC photoactive layer. This modified inorganic electron transport layer generates enhancement in photoconversion of the solar cells, reaching up to a 23% increase with respect to the unsensitized OSCs. The introduction of these dyes suppresses some degradative reactions of the nonfullerene acceptor due to the photocatalytic activity of zinc oxide, which was maintained stable for about 11 months. Improving OSC efficiencies and stabilities can thus be achieved by a judicious combination of new inorganic and organic materials.

Chiroptical switching behavior of heteroleptic ruthenium complexes bearing acetylacetonato and tropolonato ligands.

Four types of tris-chelate ruthenium complexes bearing acetylacetonato (acac) and tropolonato (trop) ligands were synthesized and optically resolved into Δ and Λ isomers: [Ru(acac)3] (Ru-0), [Ru(acac)2(trop)] (Ru-1), [Ru(acac)(trop)2] (Ru-2), and [Ru(trop)3] (Ru-3). Chiral HPLC chromatograms, electronic circular dichroism (ECD), and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) of the four ruthenium complexes were systematically investigated. As a result, the absolute configurations of the newly prepared enantiomeric complexes Ru-2 and Ru-3 were determined. For the case of Ru-2, its absolute configuration was also confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The ECD changes upon chemical oxidation were further investigated for the four complexes. An ECD change in enantiomeric Ru-1 was observed upon oxidation, but the oxidized species soon returned to the neutral state within a few minutes. Enantiomers of Ru-3 also showed explicit ECD changes upon oxidation. Further, the lifetime of the oxidized state was the longest among the four investigated complexes, whereas they racemized in solution at room temperature. In contrast, the enantiomers of heteroleptic complexes (Ru-1 and Ru-2) concurrently exhibited ECD changes, relatively long lifetime of the oxidized state, and nil or quite slow racemization behavior. The coexistence of acac and trop ligands was key to making the competing factors compatible in the resultant ruthenium complexes.

Photovoltaic performance of bipyridine and dipyridophenazine ligands anchored ruthenium complex sensitizers for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

The performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) can be influenced by the sensitizer. Therefore, three heteroleptic ruthenium complexes, cis-[Ru(dcbpy)(bpy)(NCS)2] (Ru-bpy), cis-[Ru(dcbpy)(dppz)(NCS)2] (Ru-dppz) and cis-[Ru(dcbpy)(dppx)(NCS)2] (Ru-dppx) (dcbpy = 4,4′-dicarboxylic-2,2′-bipyridine, NCS = isothiocyanate) sensitizers, were synthesized using one pot synthesis. The structures and functionalization of the ligands in each complex sensitizer were confirmed using FT-IR and NMR analyses. They were then systematically studied to determine their light absorption spectrum, the metal-centered oxidation peak, and electron recombination properties using a UV–vis spectrophotometer and electroanalytical techniques (i.e., CV, EIS, and LSV). The criteria for an efficient DSSC ruthenium sensitizer were drawn based on the structure-property relationship. It was found that the power conversion efficiency (ɳ) of the sensitizers were in the sequence of Ru-dppz (ɳ = 0.40%) < Ru-bpy (ɳ = 0.58%) < Ru-dppx (ɳ = 0.61%) in comparison to a commercialized sensitizer N719 (ɳ = 0.93%), The introduction of the dimethyl group altered the LUMO to enhance the electron injection to the TiO2 conduction band and thus increased the power conversion efficiency of the DSSC.

Green-Light Activation of Push-Pull Ruthenium(II) Complexes.

Synthesis, characterization, electrochemistry, and photophysics of homo‐ and heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complexes [Ru(cpmp)2]2+ (22+) and [Ru(cpmp)(ddpd)]2+ (32+) bearing the tridentate ligands 6,2’’‐carboxypyridyl‐2,2’‐methylamine‐pyridyl‐pyridine (cpmp) and N,N’‐dimethyl‐N,N’‐dipyridin‐2‐ylpyridine‐2,6‐diamine (ddpd) are reported. The complexes possess one (32+) or two (22+) electron‐deficient dipyridyl ketone fragments as electron‐accepting sites enabling intraligand charge transfer (ILCT), ligand‐to‐ligand charge transfer (LL'CT) and low‐energy metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorptions. The latter peak around 544 nm (green light). Complex 22+ shows 3MLCT phosphorescence in the red to near‐infrared spectral region at room temperature in deaerated acetonitrile solution with an emission quantum yield of 1.3 % and a 3MLCT lifetime of 477 ns, whereas 32+ is much less luminescent. This different behavior is ascribed to the energy gap law and the shape of the parasitic excited 3MC state potential energy surface. This study highlights the importance of the excited‐state energies and geometries for the actual excited‐state dynamics. Aromatic and aliphatic amines reductively quench the excited state of 22+ paving the way to photocatalytic applications using low‐energy green light as exemplified with the green‐light‐sensitized thiol–ene click reaction.

Novel Heteroleptic Ruthenium(II) Complexes with 2,2'- Bipyridines Containing a Series of Electron-Donor and Electron-Acceptor Substituents in 4,4'-Positions: Syntheses, Characterization, and Application as Sensitizers for ZnO Nanowire-Based Solar Cells.

A novel series of complexes of the formula [Ru(4,4′-X2-bpy)2(Mebpy-CN)](PF6)2 (X = −CH3, −OCH3, −N(CH3)2; Mebpy-CN = 4-methyl-2,2′-bipyridine-4′-carbonitrile) have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic, electrochemical, and photophysical techniques. Inclusion of the electron-withdrawing substituent −CN at one bpy ligand and different electron-donor groups −X at the 4,4′-positions of the other two bpy ligands produce a fine tuning of physicochemical properties. Redox potentials, electronic absorption maxima, and emission maxima correlate well with Hammett’s σp parameters of X. Quantum mechanical calculations are consistent with experimental data. All the complexes can be anchored through the nitrile moiety of Mebpy-CN over ZnO nanowires in dye-sensitized solar cells that exhibit an improvement of light to electrical energy conversion efficiency as the electronic asymmetry increases in the series.

Heteroleptic Ruthenium(II) Complexes with Bathophenanthroline and Bathophenanthroline Disulfonate Disodium Salt as Fluorescent Dyes for In-Gel Protein Staining.

The in-gel detection of proteins for various proteomic experiments is commonly done with the fluorescent RuII tris(bathophenanthroline disulfonate) complex (Ru(BPS)3), which is more cost-effective compared to commercial Ru-based formulations but requires tedious procedures for its preparation and strongly acidic staining conditions. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of heteroleptic RuII complexes Ru(BPS)2(BP) and Ru(BPS)(BP)2 containing bathophenanthroline (BP) and bathophenanthroline disulfonate disodium salt (BPS) in comparison with Ru(BPS)3. It was shown by fluorescent and UV-vis measurements that novel RuII complexes were excitable in both UV and visible light, close to emission bands of classical lasers, which is important for successful in-gel protein detection. Novel fluorescent dyes demonstrated improved protein detection in comparison with commercially available SYPRO Ruby staining solution. In addition, unlike commonly used staining protocols, staining with Ru(BPS)(BP)2 can be performed at nearly neutral pH, thereby reducing artificial post-translational modifications (PTMs).

Effect of fluoro-substituted acceptor-based ancillary ligands on the photocurrent and photovoltage in dye-sensitized solar cells

Herein, we report four novel heteroleptic ruthenium (II) complexes, namely SD-7 to SD-10, containing fluoro- and trifluoro- methyl antennas as substituents on the ancillary ligands for dye-sensitized solar cells, and were compared to the benchmark dye N719. Photosensitizers (dyes) SD-7 to SD-10 were synthesized according to a typical one-pot three-step procedure with the corresponding ancillary ligands (LS-7 to LS-10). All the dyes were characterized by ATR-FTIR, 1H NMR and mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the photophysical, electrochemical and photovoltaic performances were compared with N719. The band gaps, ground and excited state oxidation potentials were measured. The photovoltaic performance of the dyes showed that SD-7 with five fluorine atoms and SD-8 with CF3 at the –ortho position of the phenyl moiety outperformed the benchmark dye N719 with the efficiencies of 8.03% and 8.17%, respectively, with current density of 19.57 and 19.46 mA∙cm−2, respectively, and open-circuit voltages of 0.65 V and 0.69 V, respectively, under optimized conditions. The fabricated solar devices at lab-scale showed a systematic trend of decreasing JSC when the fluoro-substituted dyes were sensitized on TiO2: SD-7 (with five –F) > SD-8 (with one CF3 at ortho position) > SD-9 (with one CF3 at para position) > SD-10 (with two CF3, one at ortho and one at para position). This can be attributed to the greater number of fluorine atoms directly attached to sp2 hybridized carbon atoms, which greatly enhanced the dipole moment and intimate electronic coupling of SD-7 with TiO2 nanoparticles leading to better photocurrent density.

Synthesis and characterization of novel heteroleptic Ru(II) bipyridine complexes for dye-sensitized solar cell applications

Four heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complexes, [Ru(L1)(L2)(NCS)2] (where L1 = 4,4′-bis[2-(1,1′-biphenyl)-4-ylethenyl]-2,2′-bipyridine (bpbpy) or 4,4′-bis[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethenyl]-2,2′-bipyridine (dmpbpy); L2 = 4,4′-dicarboxy-2,2′-bipyridine (dcbpy) or 4,4′-bis(E-carboxyvinyl)-2,2′-bipyridine (dcvbpy)), were synthesized from a one-pot reaction of [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2 and L1 followed by the addition of the anchoring ligand, L2. From these new heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complexes containing carboxylic acid-functionalized ligands, the tetrabutylammonium salt forms of the ruthenium(II) complexes, [Ru(L1)(L2)(NCS)2][TBA], were obtained in reasonable yields and applied as dyes in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) devices. Among the DSSCs fabricated with the [Ru(L1)(L2)(NCS)2][TBA] dyes, a DSSC fabricated with the [Ru(bpbpy)(dcbpy)(NCS)2][TBA] dye exhibited the best power conversion efficiency (η) of 4.27%, while the cells fabricated with other dyes had η between 1.94 and 2.68%.