Mixed-valence Ru Research Articles

Characterization of a Mixed-Valence Ru(II)/Ru(III) Ion-Pair Complex. Unexpected High-Frequency Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Evidence for Ru(III)–Ru(III) Dimer Coupling

In this contribution, we report the synthesis and full characterization of the first mixed-valence Ru(II)/Ru(III) ion-pair complex, [RuII(bipy)2(pic)]+[cis-RuIIICl2(pic)2]-, in the solid state and in aqueous solution, where bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine and pic- = picolinate. In addition, unexpected high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance evidence for interactions between two neighboring Ru(III) ions, resulting in a triplet state, S = 1, was found.

Frustrated spin- 12 molecular magnetism in the mixed-valence antiferromagnets Ba3MRu2O9(M=In , Y, Lu)

We have performed magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity, muon spin relaxation, and neutron scattering measurements on three members of the family Ba3MRu2O9, where M = In, Y and Lu. These systems consist of mixed-valence Ru dimers on a triangular lattice with antiferromagnetic interdimer exchange. Although previous work has argued that charge order within the dimers or intradimer double exchange plays an important role in determining the magnetic properties, our results suggest that the dimers are better described as molecular units due to significant orbital hybridization, resulting in one spin-1/2 moment distributed equally over the two Ru sites. These molecular building blocks form a frustrated, quasi-two-dimensional triangular lattice. Our zero and longitudinal field muSR results indicate that the molecular moments develop a collective, static magnetic ground state, with oscillations of the zero field muon spin polarization indicative of long-range magnetic order in the Lu sample. The static magnetism is much more disordered in the Y and In samples, but they do not appear to be conventional spin glasses.

Tuning Electron Delocalization and Transfer Rates in Mixed-Valent Ru3O Complexes through "Push-Pull" Effects.

Electron transfer rates in a series of oxo-centered triruthenium clusters featuring an extended aromatic ancillary ligand of the type [Ru3(OAc)6(μ3-O)(CO)(L)(pep)], where L = 4-cyanopyridine (cpy), pyridine (py), or 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (dmap) and pep = 4-(phenylethynyl)pyridine were investigated. The electron self-exchange rate constants for the 0/- couple were determined by (1)H NMR line broadening experiments and found to range from 4.3 to 9.2 (× 10(7) M(-1) s(-1)) in deuterated acetonitrile (ACN-d3). Relative rates of self-exchange can be rationalized on the basis of increased contact area between self-exchanging pairs, and a push-pull modulation of electron density between the pep vs ancillary pyridine ligands. Faster self-exchange was observed with increasing electron-donating character of the ancillary pyridine ligand substituent (dmap > py > cpy), and this was attributed to increased orbital overlap between self-exchanging pairs. These results are supported by trends observed in (1)H NMR contact shifts of the pep ligand that were found to depend on the electron-donating or -withdrawing nature of the ancillary pyridine ligand.

Multifunctional, defect-engineered metal-organic frameworks with ruthenium centers: sorption and catalytic properties.

A mixed-linker solid-solution approach was employed to modify the metal sites and introduce structural defects into the mixed-valence Ru(II/III) structural analogue of the well-known MOF family [M3(II,II)(btc)2] (M=Cu, Mo, Cr, Ni, Zn; btc=benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate), with partly missing carboxylate ligators at the Ru2 paddle-wheels. Incorporation of pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate (pydc), which is the same size as btc but carries lower charge, as a second, defective linker has led to the mixed-linker isoreticular derivatives of Ru-MOF, which display characteristics unlike those of the defect-free framework. Along with the creation of additional coordinatively unsaturated sites, the incorporation of pydc induces the partial reduction of ruthenium. Accordingly, the modified Ru sites are responsible for the activity of the "defective" variants in the dissociative chemisorption of CO2, the enhanced performance in CO sorption, the formation of hydride species, and the catalytic hydrogenation of olefins.

ChemInform Abstract: Skeletal Reorganization of Enynes Catalyzed by a Ru(II)—Ru(III) Mixed‐Valence Complex under an Atmosphere of O2 or CO.

A mixed-valence Ru(II)–Ru(III) complex was used to catalyze the skeletal reorganization of 1,6-enynes, leading to the production of 1-vinylcyclopentene derivatives. The reaction proceeded optimally...

Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactions of Ruthenium(II), -(III), and -(IV) Complexes with Sterically Demanding 1,2,4-Tri-tert-butylcyclopentadienyl Ligands

The reaction of RuCl3·3H2O with 1,3,5-C5(tBu)3H3 afforded a dimeric Ru(III) dichloride complex, [Cp‡RuCl(μ-Cl)]2 (1b; Cp‡ = η5-1,2,4-C5(tBu)3H2). The treatment of 1b with gaseous oxygen afforded the tetravalent ruthenium μ-oxo complex [Cp‡RuCl2]2(μ-O) (2b). The treatment of 2b with a primary or secondary alcohol regenerated 1b with concomitant dehydrogenative oxidation of the alcohol to afford the corresponding aldehyde or ketone, respectively. The treatment of 2b with refluxing 2-propanol or an excess of zinc powder in tetrahydrofuran efficiently afforded a novel dimeric Ru(II) monochloride with a butterfly structure, [Cp‡Ru(μ-Cl)]2 (4), with unsaturated ruthenium centers and high reactivity toward electron-donating reagents. The reaction of 1b with 4 afforded the mixed-valence Ru(III)/Ru(II) complex Cp‡Ru(μ-Cl)3RuCp‡ (7). The treatment of the appropriate precursor 1b or 2b with an excess of a hydride reagent such as LiEt3BH or LiAlH4 afforded the novel dinuclear ruthenium tetrahydride-bridged complex Cp‡Ru(μ-H)4RuCp‡ (9b). The treatment of a mixture of [Cp*Ru(μ3-Cl)]4 and 4 with LiEt3BH afforded the analogous dinuclear ruthenium tetrahydride-bridged complex bearing Cp* (Cp* = η5-C5Me5) and Cp‡ ligands, Cp*Ru(μ-H)4RuCp‡ (9c). The molecular structures of the newly synthesized complexes 1b, 2b, 4, 7, 8b, and 9b,c were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The reaction of 9b with ethylene exclusively afforded a μ-ethylidyne μ-ethylidene complex, Cp‡Ru(μ-CCH3)(μ-CHCH3)(μ-H)RuCp‡ (11), whereas the reaction of 9a with excess ethylene selectively afforded a dinuclear ruthenium diviny ethylene complex, Cp*Ru(μ-CHCH2)2(CH2CH2)RuCp* (10). The difference in the reactivities can be attributed to the difference in the spatial size of the reaction sites rather than their electronic properties such as electron density at the ruthenium centers. Irradiation of 11 with UV light (365 nm) effectively afforded a bis(μ-ethylidyne) complex, Cp‡Ru(μ-CCH3)2RuCp‡ (12). The structures of 11 and 12 were also determined by XRD studies.

Efficient Electronic Communication of Two Ruthenium Centers through a Rigid Ditopic N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Linker

A ditopic benzobis(carbene) ligand precursor was prepared that contained a chelating pyridyl moiety to ensure co-planarity of the carbene ligand and the coordination plane of a bound octahedral metal center. Bimetallic ruthenium complexes comprising this ditopic ligand [L4Ru-C,N-bbi-C,N-RuL4] were obtained by a transmetalation methodology (C,N-bbi-C,N=benzobis(N-pyridyl-N'-methyl-imidazolylidene). The two metal centers are electronically decoupled when the ruthenium is in a pseudotetrahedral geometry imparted by a cymene spectator ligand (L4=[(cym)Cl]). Ligand exchange of the Cl(-)/cymene ligands for two bipyridine or four MeCN ligands induced a change of the coordination geometry to octahedral. As a consequence, the ruthenium centers, separated through space by more than 10 Å, become electronically coupled, which is evidenced by two distinctly different metal-centered oxidation processes that are separated by 134 mV (L4=[(bpy)2]; bpy=2,2'-bipyridine) and 244 mV (L4=[(MeCN)4]), respectively. Hush analysis of the intervalence charge-transfer bands in the mixed-valent species indicates substantial valence delocalization in both complexes (delocalization parameter Γ=0.41 and 0.37 in the bpy and MeCN complexes, respectively). Spectroelectrochemical measurements further indicated that the mixed-valent Ru(II)/Ru(III) species and the fully oxidized Ru(III)/Ru(III) complexes gradually decompose when bound to MeCN ligands, whereas the bpy spectators significantly enhance the stability. These results demonstrate the efficiency of carbenes and, in particular, of the bbi ligand scaffold for mediating electron transfer and for the fabrication of molecular redox switches. Moreover, the relevance of spectator ligands is emphasized for tailoring the degree of electronic communication through the benzobis(carbene) linker.

Skeletal Reorganization of Enynes Catalyzed by a Ru(II)–Ru(III) Mixed-valence Complex under an Atmosphere of O2 or CO

Abstract A mixed-valence Ru(II)–Ru(III) complex was used to catalyze the skeletal reorganization of 1,6-enynes, leading to the production of 1-vinylcyclopentene derivatives. The reaction proceeded optimally in an atmosphere of O2 or CO. The presence of an alkyl group at the internal olefinic carbon in the starting enyne resulted in an increase in product yield compared to that bearing no substituent on the olefin moiety.

Diruthenium(iii,iii) diphosphonate with a spin ground state S = 2

Complexes containing a Ru(2)(n+) core (n = 4, 5 or 6) have been of great interest because of their variety of electronic configurations and magnetic properties. Herein, we report a novel homovalent Ru(2)(6+)-based complex, (H(2)pip)(2)[Ru(2)(hedp)(2)Cl(2)]·6H(2)O (pip = piperazine) (1), isolated by the direct reaction of the mixed-valent Ru(2)(5+)-based anion Ru(2)(hedp)(2)(3-) [hedp = 1-hydroxyethylidenediphosphonate, CH(3)C(OH)(PO(3))(2)] with oxidant peracetic acid under room temperature conditions. Magnetic measurements unambiguously confirm that this complex contains four unpaired electrons with a spin ground state of S = 2.

Activation of Nitrous Oxide by Dinuclear Ruthenium Complexes

The dinuclear Ru(II) complexes (arene)Ru(μ-Cl)3RuCl(C2H4)(PCy3) (arene = p-cymene or 1,3,5-C6H3iPr3) react with N2O under mild conditions to give OPCy3 and the trinuclear complexes (arene)Ru(μ-Cl)3Ru(μ-Cl)3Ru(arene). The N-heterocyclic carbene complex (p-cymene)Ru(μ-Cl)3RuCl(C2H4)(IMes) (IMes = 1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene), on the other hand, reacts with N2O to give a mixed-valence Ru(II)/Ru(III) complex with a chelating alkoxy ligand. Dinitrogen complexes were identified as intermediates in all reactions. At elevated temperature, the carbene complex (p-cymene)Ru(μ-Cl)3RuCl(C2H4)(IMes) is able to catalyze the oxidation of alcohols with N2O.

Solvent-dependent modulation of metal–metal electronic interactions in a dinuclear cyanoruthenate complex: a detailed electrochemical, spectroscopic and computational study

The dinuclear complex [{Ru(CN)(4)}(2)(μ-bppz)](4-) shows a strongly solvent-dependent metal-metal electronic interaction which allows the mixed-valence state to be switched from class 2 to class 3 by changing solvent from water to CH(2)Cl(2). In CH(2)Cl(2) the separation between the successive Ru(II)/Ru(III) redox couples is 350 mV and the IVCT band (from the UV/Vis/NIR spectroelectrochemistry) is characteristic of a borderline class II/III or class III mixed valence state. In water, the redox separation is only 110 mV and the much broader IVCT transition is characteristic of a class II mixed-valence state. This is consistent with the observation that raising and lowering the energy of the d(π) orbitals in CH(2)Cl(2) or water, respectively, will decrease or increase the energy gap to the LUMO of the bppz bridging ligand, which provides the delocalisation pathway via electron-transfer. IR spectroelectrochemistry could only be carried out successfully in CH(2)Cl(2) and revealed class III mixed-valence behaviour on the fast IR timescale. In contrast to this, time-resolved IR spectroscopy showed that the MLCT excited state, which is formulated as Ru(III)(bppz(˙-))Ru(II) and can therefore be considered as a mixed-valence Ru(II)/Ru(III) complex with an intermediate bridging radical anion ligand, is localised on the IR timescale with spectroscopically distinct Ru(II) and Ru(III) termini. This is because the necessary electron-transfer via the bppz ligand is more difficult because of the additional electron on bppz(˙-) which raises the orbital through which electron exchange occurs in energy. DFT calculations reproduce the electronic spectra of the complex in all three Ru(II)/Ru(II), Ru(II)/Ru(III) and Ru(III)/Ru(III) calculations in both water and CH(2)Cl(2) well as long as an explicit allowance is made for the presence of water molecules hydrogen-bonded to the cyanides in the model used. They also reproduce the excited-state IR spectra of both [Ru(CN)(4)(μ-bppz)](2-) and [{Ru(CN)(4)}(2)(μ-bppz)](4-) very well in both solvents. The reorganization of the water solvent shell indicates a possible dynamical reason for the longer life time of the triplet state in water compared to CH(2)Cl(2).

Application of Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy in the Study of Mixed-Valence Asymmetric Ruthenium Polypyridyl Complexes

Circular dichroism (CD) spectroelectrochemistry is used to determine the extent of singly occupied molecular orbital delocalization in mixed-valence multinuclear complexes, specifically the mixed-valence Ru(II)Ru(III) states of the four diastereoisomers of [(Ru(bpy)(2))(2)(bpt)](3+) [1; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridyl and bpt = 3,5-bis(pyrid-2'-yl)-1,2,4-triazolato anion]. The complex was found to be stable to thermal racemization in the three oxidation states, but photoracemization in the Ru(II)Ru(II) state was observed.

Solvothermal growth of a ruthenium metal–organic framework featuring HKUST-1 structure type as thin films on oxide surfaces

Phase-pure crystalline thin films of a mixed-valence Ru(2)(II,III) metal-organic framework with 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate (btc) as a linker were solvothermally grown on amorphous alumina and silica surfaces. Based on the Rietveld refinement, the structure of Ru-MOF was assigned to be analogous to [Cu(3)(btc)(2)] (HKUST-1).

Dinuclear Ruthenium Ethylene Complexes: Syntheses, Structures, and Catalytic Applications in ATRA and ATRC Reactions

The complexes [(p-cymene)Ru(μ-Cl)3RuCl(C2H4)(PR3)] (PR3 = PPh3, Pn-Bu3) were synthesized by reaction of [(p-cymene)RuCl(μ-Cl)]2 with the respective phosphine ligand in the presence of ethylene. Structurally related complexes containing the tricyclopentylphosphine (PCyp3) or the isobutylphobane ligand (phobane = 9-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane) were obtained by reaction of [(arene)RuCl(μ-Cl)]2 (arene = p-cymene, 1,3,5-i-Pr3C6H3) with 2 equiv of [(arene)RuCl2(PCyp3)] or [(arene)RuCl2(isobutylphobane)] in the presence of ethylene. The structures of the dinuclear complexes [(p-cymene)Ru(μ-Cl)3RuCl(C2H4)(PPh3)] and [(1,3,5-i-Pr3C6H3)Ru(μ-Cl)3RuCl(C2H4)(isobutylphobane)] as well as of the mononuclear precursors [(p-cymene)RuCl2(isobutylphobane)], [(1,3,5-i-Pr3C6H3)RuCl2(isobutylphobane)], and [(p-cymene)RuCl2(PCyp3)] were determined by single-crystal X-ray analyses. Kinetic analyses of the atom transfer radical addition reaction of CCl4 to styrene revealed that the catalytic activity of the dinuclear complexes was strongly dependent on the nature of the phosphine ligand but only slightly affected by the nature of the arene ligand. Addition of Mg to the reaction mixture was found to increase the lifetime of the catalyst significantly. With Mg as the cocatalyst, mixed-valence Ru(II)−Ru(III) complexes of the general formula [(arene)Ru(μ-Cl)3RuCl2(PR3)] were found to be equally potent catalyst precursors when compared to the Ru(II)−Ru(II) complexes [(arene)Ru(μ-Cl)3RuCl(C2H4)(PR3)].

Synthesis, Structure, and Electronic Properties of a Dimer of Ru(bpy)2Doubly Bridged by Methoxide and Pyrazolate

The heterobridged dinuclear complex cis,cis-[(bpy) 2Ru(mu-OCH 3)(mu-pyz)Ru(bpy) 2] (2+) ( 1; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; pyz = pyrazolate) was synthesized and isolated as a hexafluorophosphate salt. Its molecular structure was fully characterized by X-ray crystallography, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and ESI mass spectrometry. The compound 1.(PF 6) 2 (C 44H 38F 12N 10OP 2Ru 2) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2 1/ c with a = 13.3312(4) A, b = 22.5379(6) A, c = 17.2818(4) A, beta = 99.497(2) degrees , V = 5121.3(2) A (3), and Z = 4. The meso diastereoisomeric form was exclusively found in the crystal structure, although the NMR spectra clearly demonstrated the presence of two stereoisomers in solution (rac and meso forms at approximately 1:1 ratio). The electronic properties of the complex in acetonitrile were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and UV-vis and NIR-IR spectroelectrochemistries. The stepwise oxidation of the Ru (II)-Ru (II) complex into the mixed-valent Ru (II)-Ru (III) and fully oxidized Ru (III)-Ru (III) states is fully reversible on the time scale of the in situ (spectro)electrochemical measurements. The mixed-valent species displays strong electronic coupling, as evidenced by the large splitting between the redox potentials for the Ru(III)/Ru(II) couples (Delta E 1/2 = 0.62 V; K c = 3 x 10 (10)) and the appearance of an intervalence transfer (IT) band at 1490 nm that is intense, narrow, and independent of solvent. Whereas this salient band in the NIR region originates primarily from highest-energy of the three IT transitions predicted for Ru(II)-Ru(III) systems, a weaker absorption band corresponding to the lowest-energy IT transition was clearly evidenced in the IR region ( approximately 3200 cm (-1)). The observation of totally coalesced vibrational peaks in the 1400-1650 cm (-1) range for a set of five bpy spectator vibrations in Ru (II)-Ru (III) relative to Ru (II)-Ru (II) and Ru (III)-Ru (III) provided evidence for rapid electron transfer and valence averaging on the picosecond time scale. Other than a relatively short Ru...Ru distance (3.72 A for the crystalline Ru (II)-Ru (II) complex), the extensive communication between metal centers is attributed mostly to the pi-donor ability of the bridging ligands (pyz, OMe) combined with the pi-acceptor ability of the peripheral (bpy) ligands.

Mixed-Valent Diruthenium Half-Sandwich Complexes Containing Two Chelating 1,2-Dicarba-closo-dodecaborane-1,2-dithiolate Ligands: Reactivity towards Phenylacetylene, 1,4-Diethynylbenzene, and Ethynylferrocene

Treatment of 1a and 1b with phenylacetylene, 1,4-diethynylbenzene, and ethynylferrocene affords addition complexes, (p-cymene)Ru(mu-E2)Ru(S2C2B10H10)2(R1C=CR2), (R1 = Ph (H), R2 = H (Ph), 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b; R1 = -Ph-C[triple bond]CH (H), R2 = H (-Ph-C[triple bond]CH), 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b; R1 = Fc (H), R2 = H (Fc), 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b). Alkyne addition occurs at sulfur atoms of two different chelating 1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane-1,2-dithiolate ligands that leads to a change of 16e Ru(IV) in 1a and 1b to 18e Ru(II) in 2a-7a and 2b-7b, respectively. Moreover, the reaction of 1a with ethynylferrocene produces an unprecedented tetranuclear mixed-valent Ru(IV)Ru(II)3S12 cluster (8a) consisting of two 1a and one ethynylferrocene through the cleavage and generation of Ru-S, S-S, and C-S bonds. The complexes were characterized by IR, MS, and NMR spectroscopy and microanalysis. X-ray structural analyses were performed on 1b, 2a, 3b, 5a, 5b, 7b, and 8a.

Ruthenium(II,III,III) μ3-oxotrifluoroacetate with dimethyl sulfoxide: Synthesis, structure, and DTF quantum-chemical calculations

The reaction of [Ru 3 III (μ3-O)(μ-O2CCF3)6(H2O)3](O2CCF3) in methanol gives two solvates, [Ru3O(O2CCF3)6(DMSO)3] · 1/2H2O (I) and [Ru3O(O2CCF3)6(DMSO)3] · H2O (II), of a novel trinuclear mixedvalence Ru(II,III,III) trifluoroacetate complex, where two DMSO molecules are coordinated to the Ru atoms through the O atom, while the third DMSO molecule is coordinated through the S atom. According to the X-ray diffraction data, the complex can crystallize in two crystal systems: triclinic (I) (space group P $$\overline 1 $$ ) and monoclinic (II) (space group P21/m). The unit cell parameters for I are: a = 9.354, b = 11.005, c = 20.846 A, α = 99.10, β = 96.38, γ = 92.17, Z = 2; R = 7.27%; for I are: a = 9.186, b = 17.044, c = 13.091 A, β = 101.10, Z = 2; R = 14.18%.

Electronic and Magnetic Communication in Mixed-Valent and Homovalent Ruthenium Complexes Containing Phenylcyanamide Type Bridging Ligands

Four new phenylcyanamido-bridge dinuclear ruthenium complexes [{Ru(tpy)(thd)}2(mu-L)] with tpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine, thd = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione and L = dcbp = 4,4'-dicyanamidobiphenyl; bcpa = bis(4-cyanamidophenyl)acetylene; bcpda = bis(4-cyanamidophenyl)diacetylene; bcpea = 9,10,-bis(4-cyanamidophenylethynyl)anthracene have been prepared and fully characterized. The mixed valent Ru(II)Ru(III) and homovalent paramagnetic Ru(III)Ru(III) forms of all the complexes were electrochemically generated and studied by UV-vis-NIR and EPR spectroscopy. Electronic communication was quantified by the electronic coupling parameter V(ab) extracted from intervalence measurements in the near IR area, and magnetic communication was quantified in terms of the exchange coupling constant J, accessible from the intensity of the EPR signal when varying the temperature. Exponential decays for both electronic and magnetic coupling versus intermetallic distance were obtained and discussed.

Cyano-bridged one-dimensional chain containing mixed-valent Ru 2(II,III) dinuclear unit

Using tricyanometalate [(Tp)Fe(CN) 3] − (Tp − = hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate) as building block, the 1-D chain polymer containing paramagnetic Ru 2(II,III) dinuclear complex, [Ru 2(O 2C tBu) 4][(Tp)Fe(CN) 3] ( 1), was synthesized and its structure was determined. Magnetic measurements indicate that there is antiferromagnetic interaction between Ru 2 units ( s = 3/2) and low-spin Fe III ions ( s = 1/2).

2,4,6-Tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine (tptz)-Derived [RuII(tptz)(acac)(CH3CN)]+and Mixed-Valent [(acac)2RuIII{(μ-tptz-H+)-}RuII(acac)(CH3CN)]+

Mononuclear [Ru(II)(tptz)(acac)(CH3CN)]ClO4 ([1]ClO4) and mixed-valent dinuclear [(acac)2Ru(III){(mu-tptz-Eta+)-}Ru(II)(acac)(CH3CN)]ClO4 ([5]ClO4; acac = acetylacetonate) complexes have been synthesized via the reactions of Ru(II)(acac)2(CH3CN)2 and 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine (tptz), in 1:1 and 2:1 molar ratios, respectively. In [1]ClO4, tptz binds with the Ru(II) ion in a tridentate N,N,N mode (motif A), whereas in [5]ClO4, tptz bridges the metal ions unsymmetrically via the tridentate neutral N,N,N mode with the Ru(II) center and cyclometalated N,C- state with the Ru(III) site (motif F). The activation of the coordinated nitrile function in [1]ClO4 and [5]ClO4 in the presence of ethanol and alkylamine leads to the formation of iminoester ([2]ClO4 and [7]ClO4) and amidine ([4]ClO4) derivatives, respectively. Crystal structure analysis of [2]ClO4 reveals the formation of a beautiful eight-membered water cluster having a chair conformation. The cluster is H-bonded to the pendant pyridyl ring N of tptz and also with the O atom of the perchlorate ion, which, in turn, makes short (C-H- - - - -O) contacts with the neighboring molecule, leading to a H-bonding network. The redox potentials corresponding to the Ru(II) state in both the mononuclear {[(acac)(tptz)Ru(II)-NC-CH3]ClO4 ([1]ClO4) >> [(acac)(tptz)Ru(II)-NH=C(CH3)-OC2H5]ClO4 ([2]ClO4) > [(acac)(tptz)Ru(II)-NH2-C6H4(CH3)]ClO4 ([3]ClO4) > [(acac)(tptz)Ru(II)-NH=C(CH3)-NHC2H5]ClO4 ([4]ClO4)} and dinuclear {[(acac)2Ru(III){(mu-tptz-H+)-}Ru(II)(acac)(NC-CH3)]ClO4 ([5]ClO4), [(acac)2Ru(III){(mu-tptz-H+(N+-O-)2)-}Ru(II)(acac)(NC-CH3)]ClO4 ([6]ClO4), [(acac)2Ru(III){(mu-tptz-H+)-}Ru(II)(acac)(NH=C(CH3)-OC2H5)]ClO4 ([7]ClO4), and [(acac)2Ru(III){(mu-tptz-Eta+)-}Ru(II)(acac)(NC4H4N)]ClO4 ([8]ClO(4))} complexes vary systematically depending on the electronic nature of the coordinated sixth ligands. However, potentials involving the Ru(III) center in the dinuclear complexes remain more or less invariant. The mixed-valent Ru(II)Ru(III) species ([5]ClO4-[8]ClO4) exhibits high comproportionation constant (Kc) values of 1.1 x 10(12)-2 x 10(9), with substantial contribution from the donor center asymmetry at the two metal sites. Complexes display Ru(II)- and Ru(III)-based metal-to-ligand and ligand-to-metal charge-transfer transitions, respectively, in the visible region and ligand-based transitions in the UV region. In spite of reasonably high K(c) values for [5]ClO4-[8]ClO4, the expected intervalence charge-transfer transitions did not resolve in the typical near-IR region up to 2000 nm. The paramagnetic Ru(II)Ru(III) species ([5]ClO4-[8]ClO4) displays rhombic electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra at 77 K (g approximately 2.15 and Deltag approximately 0.5), typical of a low-spin Ru(III) ion in a distorted octahedral environment. The one-electron-reduced tptz complexes [Ru(II)(tptz.-)(acac)(CEta3CN)] (1) and [(acac)2Ru(III){(mu-tptz-Eta+).2-}Ru(II)(acac)(CH3CN)] (5), however, show a free-radical-type EPR signal near g = 2.0 with partial metal contribution.