Photosubstitution Quantum Yield Research Articles

Ligand Rigidity Steers the Selectivity and Efficiency of the Photosubstitution Reaction of Strained Ruthenium Polypyridyl Complexes.

While photosubstitution reactions in metal complexes are usually thought of as dissociative processes poorly dependent on the environment, they are, in fact, very sensitive to solvent effects. Therefore, it is crucial to explicitly consider solvent molecules in theoretical models of these reactions. Here, we experimentally and computationally investigated the selectivity of the photosubstitution of diimine chelates in a series of sterically strained ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes in water and acetonitrile. The complexes differ essentially by the rigidity of the chelates, which strongly influenced the observed selectivity of the photosubstitution. As the ratio between the different photoproducts was also influenced by the solvent, we developed a full density functional theory modeling of the reaction mechanism that included explicit solvent molecules. Three reaction pathways leading to photodissociation were identified on the triplet hypersurface, each characterized by either one or two energy barriers. Photodissociation in water was promoted by a proton transfer in the triplet state, which was facilitated by the dissociated pyridine ring acting as a pendent base. We show that the temperature variation of the photosubstitution quantum yield is an excellent tool to compare theory with experiments. An unusual phenomenon was observed for one of the compounds in acetonitrile, for which an increase in temperature led to a surprising decrease in the photosubstitution reaction rate. We interpret this experimental observation based on complete mapping of the triplet hypersurface of this complex, revealing thermal deactivation to the singlet ground state through intersystem crossing.

Ruthenium-based PACT agents based on bisquinoline chelates: synthesis, photochemistry, and cytotoxicity

The known ruthenium complex [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(Hmte)](PF6)2 ([1](PF6)2, where tpy = 2,2’:6’,2″-terpyridine, bpy = 2,2’-bipyridine, Hmte = 2-(methylthio)ethanol) is photosubstitutionally active but non-toxic to cancer cells even upon light irradiation. In this work, the two analogs complexes [Ru(tpy)(NN)(Hmte)](PF6)2, where NN = 3,3'-biisoquinoline (i-biq, [2](PF6)2) and di(isoquinolin-3-yl)amine (i-Hdiqa, [3](PF6)2), were synthesized and their photochemistry and phototoxicity evaluated to assess their suitability as photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT) agents. The increase of the aromatic surface of [2](PF6)2 and [3](PF6)2, compared to [1](PF6)2, leads to higher lipophilicity and higher cellular uptake for the former complexes. Such improved uptake is directly correlated to the cytotoxicity of these compounds in the dark: while [2](PF6)2 and [3](PF6)2 showed low EC50 values in human cancer cells, [1](PF6)2 is not cytotoxic due to poor cellular uptake. While stable in the dark, all complexes substituted the protecting thioether ligand upon light irradiation (520 nm), with the highest photosubstitution quantum yield found for [3](PF6)2 (Φ[3] = 0.070). Compounds [2](PF6)2 and [3](PF6)2 were found both more cytotoxic after light activation than in the dark, with a photo index of 4. Considering the very low singlet oxygen quantum yields of these compounds, and the lack of cytotoxicity of the photoreleased Hmte thioether ligand, it can be concluded that the toxicity observed after light activation is due to the photoreleased aqua complexes [Ru(tpy)(NN)(OH2)]2+, and thus that [2](PF6)2 and [3](PF6)2 are promising PACT candidates.Graphic abstract

Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding: A Key Factor Controlling the Photosubstitution of Ruthenium Complexes.

Photosubstitution reactions of ruthenium complexes with pyrazole ligands, cis-[Ru(bpy)2(pzH)2]2+ (1a), cis-[Ru(bpy)2(pz)(pzH)]+ (1b), and cis-[Ru(bpy)2(pz)2]0 (1c) (pzH = pyrazole, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine), were investigated. Dicationic complex 1a was deprotonated to 1b using moderate base (pKa = 15.2, MeCN), while the second deprotonation to give 1c required more severe conditions (pKa = 26.9). Monocationic complex 1b possessed an N-H···N-type intramolecular hydrogen bond between the pyrazole and pyrazolate ligands, as corroborated by the solid-state crystal structure. The photosubstitution quantum yield of 1a (Φ = 0.26) was comparable to that of cis-[Ru(bpy)2(pyridine)2]2+ (Φ = 0.24) in acetonitrile solution. In contrast, the photodissociation of a pzH ligand was strongly suppressed by the deprotonation of a pyrazole ligand N-H group. In the presence of 10 000 equiv of 4,4'-dimethylaminopyridine, the quantum yield dropped to ∼2 × 10-6 in acetonitrile. The photosubstitution quantum yield of 1b was even smaller than that of neutral complex 1c, although 1c had a smaller HOMO-LUMO energy gap than monocationic complex 1b. The small quantum yield of 1b was attributed to intramolecular hydrogen bonding between pyrazole and pyrazolate ligands. The apparent rate constants for the photosubstitution of 1b were highly solvent-dependent. The photosubstitution of 1b was suppressed in aprotic solvents, while the reaction was accelerated by 2 orders of magnitude in protic solvents with strong proton donor abilities.

Toward Optimal Ru(II) Photocages: Balancing Photochemistry, Stability, and Biocompatibility Through Fine Tuning of Steric, Electronic, and Physiochemical Features.

Ru(II) complex photocages are used in a variety of biological applications, but the thermal stability, photosubstitution quantum yield, and biological compatibility of the most commonly used Ru(II) systems remain unoptimized. Here, multiple compounds used in photocaging applications were analyzed and found to have several unsatisfactory characteristics. To address these deficiencies, three new scaffolds were designed to improve key properties through modulation of a combination of electronic, steric, and physiochemical features. One of these new systems, containing the 2,2'-biquinoline-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid (2,2'-bicinchoninic acid) ligand, fulfills several of the requirements for an optimal photocage. Another complex, containing the 2-benzothiazol-2-yl-quinoline ligand, provides a scaffold for the creation of "dual action" agents.

Synthesis and Avidin Binding of Ruthenium Complexes Functionalized with a Light-Cleavable Free Biotin Moiety.

In this work the synthesis, photochemistry, and streptavidin interaction of new [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(SRR′)](PF6)2 complexes where the R′ group contains a free biotin ligand, are described. Two different ligands SRR′ were investigated: An asymmetric ligand 1 where the Ru‐bound thioether is a N‐acetylmethionine moiety linked to the free biotin fragment via a triethylene glycol spacer and a symmetrical ligand 2 containing two identical biotin moieties. The coordination of these two ligands to the precursor [Ru(tpy)(bpy)Cl]Cl was studied in water at 80 °C. In such conditions the coordination of the asymmetric ligand 1 occurred under thermodynamic control. After the reaction, a mononuclear and a binuclear complex were isolated. In the mononuclear complex, the ratio of methionine‐ {[6](PF6)2} vs. biotin‐bound {[7](PF6)2} regioisomer was 5.3 and the free biotin fragment of [6](PF6)2 allowed to purify it from its isomer [7](PF6)2 at small scales using avidin affinity chromatography. Coordination of the symmetrical ligand 2 afforded [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(2)](PF6)2 {[8](PF6)2} in synthetically useful scales (100 mg), good yield (82 %), and without traces of the binuclear impurity. In this complex, one of the biotin remains free whereas the second one is coordinated to ruthenium. Photochemical release of ligand 2 from [8](PF6)2 occurred upon blue light irradiation (465 nm) with a photosubstitution quantum yield of 0.011 that was independent of the binding of streptavidin to the free biotin ligand.

Spontaneous Formation in the Dark, and Visible Light-Induced Cleavage, of a Ru–S Bond in Water: A Thermodynamic and Kinetic Study

In this work the thermal and photochemical reactivity of a series of ruthenium complexes [Ru(terpy)(N-N)(L)](X)2 (terpy = 2,2';6',2″-terpyridine, L = 2-(methylthio)ethanol (Hmte) or water, and X is Cl(-) or PF6(-)) with four different bidentate chelates N-N = bpy (2,2'-bipyridine), biq (2,2'-biquinoline), dcbpy (6,6'-dichloro-2,2'-bipyridine), or dmbpy (6,6'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine), is described. For each chelate N-N the thermodynamic constant of the dark equilibrium between the aqua- and Hmte- complexes, the Hmte photosubstitution quantum yield, and the rate constants of the thermal interconversion between the aqua and Hmte complexes were measured at room temperature. By changing the steric hindrance and electronic properties of the spectator N-N ligand along the series bpy, biq, dcbpy, dmbpy the dark reactivity clearly shifts from a nonlabile equilibrium with N-N = bpy to a very labile thermal equilibrium with N-N = dmbpy. According to variable-temperature rate constant measurements in the dark near pH = 7 the activation enthalpies for the thermal substitution of H2O by Hmte are comparable for all ruthenium complexes, whereas the activation entropies are negative for bpy and biq, and positive for dcbpy and dmbpy complexes. These data are indicative of a change in the substitution mechanism, being interchange associative with nonhindered or poorly hindered chelates (bpy, biq), and interchange dissociative for more bulky ligands (dcbpy, dmbpy). For the most labile dmbpy system, the thermal equilibrium is too fast to allow significant modification of the composition of the mixture using light, and for the nonhindered bpy complex the photosubstitution of Hmte by H2O is possible but thermal binding of Hmte to the aqua complex does not occur at room temperature. By contrast, with N-N = biq or dcbpy the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters describing the formation and breakage of the Ru-S bond lie in a range where the bond forms spontaneously in the dark, but is efficiently cleaved under light irradiation. Thus, the ratio between the aqua and Hmte complex in solution can be efficiently controlled at room temperature using visible light irradiation.

Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, photochemical and photophysical properties and biological activities of ruthenium complexes with mono- and bi-dentate histamine ligand

The monodentate cis-[Ru(phen)(2)(hist)(2)](2+)1R and the bidentate cis-[Ru(phen)(2)(hist)](2+)2A complexes were prepared and characterized using spectroscopic ((1)H, ((1)H-(1)H)COSY and ((1)H-(13)C)HSQC NMR, UV-vis, luminescence) techniques. The complexes presented absorption and emission in the visible region, as well as a tri-exponential emission decay. The complexes are soluble in aqueous and non-aqueous solution with solubility in a buffer solution of pH 7.4 of 1.14 × 10(-3) mol L(-1) for (1R + 2A) and 6.43 × 10(-4) mol L(-1) for 2A and lipophilicity measured in an aqueous-octanol solution of -1.14 and -0.96, respectively. Photolysis in the visible region in CH(3)CN converted the starting complexes into cis-[Ru(phen)(2)(CH(3)CN)(2)](2+). Histamine photorelease was also observed in pure water and in the presence of BSA (1.0 × 10(-6) mol L(-1)). The bidentate coordination of the histamine to the ruthenium center in relation to the monodentate coordination increased the photosubstitution quantum yield by a factor of 3. Pharmacological studies showed that the complexes present a moderate inhibition of AChE with an IC(50) of 21 μmol L(-1) (referred to risvagtini, IC(50) 181 μmol L(-1) and galantamine IC(50) 0.006 μmol L(-1)) with no appreciable cytotoxicity toward to the HeLa cells (50% cell viability at 925 μmol L(-1)). Cell uptake of the complexes into HeLa cells was detected by fluorescence confocal microscopy. Overall, the observation of a luminescent complex that penetrates the cell wall and has low cytotoxicity, but is reactive photochemically, releasing histamine when irradiated with visible light, are interesting features for application of these complexes as phototherapeutic agents.

Physical, photophysical and structural properties of ruthenium(ii) complexes containing a tetradentate bipyridine ligand

The focus of this report is the synthesis and properties of two new analogues of ruthenium(ii) tris-bipyridine, a monomer and dimer. The complexes contain the ligand 6,6'-(ethan-1,2-diyl)bis-2,2'-bipyridine (O-bpy) which contains two bipyridine units bridged in the 6,6' positions by an ethylene bridge. Crystal structures of the two complexes formulated as [Ru(bpy)(O-bpy)](PF6)2 and [(Ru(bpy)2)2(O-bpy)](PF6)4 reveal structures of lower symmetry than D3 which affects the electronic properties of the complexes as substantiated by density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations. The HOMO lies largely on the ruthenium center; the LUMO spreads its electron density over the bipyridine units, but not equally in the mixed O-bpy-bpy complexes. Calculated Vis/UV spectra using TDDFT methods agree with experimental spectra. The lowest lying triplet excited state for [Ru(bpy)(O-bpy)](PF6)2 is 3MC resulting in a low emission quantum yield and a large chloride ion photosubstitution quantum yield.

Femtosecond Infrared Studies of the Dissociation and Dynamics of Transition Metal Carbonyls in Solution

The ultrafast dynamics of the dissociation of M(CO)6 (M = Cr, W, Mo) in alkane solutions were studied by femtosecond IR spectroscopy. After UV photolysis at 295 nm, both the bleach of the parent molecules and the absorption of the pentacarbonyl intermediate were probed with 240 fs time resolution. Oscillatory perturbed free induction decay signals before t = 0 were observed and well characterized by realistic parameters of the system. The bleach recovery dynamics were found to be wavelength dependent, indicating that hot parent molecules are formed and that the bleach recovery time is determined by the vibrational cooling time. The measured percentage bleach recovery in n-heptane is less than the expected value calculated from the photosubstitution quantum yield measurements, suggesting that the initial recovery of the bleach is faster than our time resolution. The kinetics in the A1 vibrational mode region of the pentacarbonyl species have been measured to probe the formation and decay of the nascent pro...

Ligand-field and charge-transfer photochemistry of M(CO)4(1,10-phenanthroline) (M = chromium, molybdenum, tungsten). Mechanistic information from high-pressure effects

The pressure dependence of the quantum yield for photosubstitution of CO in M(CO){sub 4}(1,10-phenanthroline) (M = Cr, Mo, W) was studied at different excitation wavelengths in order to resolve the nature of the substitution mechanism operating from the ligand-field and charge-transfer excited states. Irradiation at 366 nm results in positive volumes of activation (between +6 and +10 cm{sup 3} mol{sup {minus}1}) for ligand-field photosubstitution, in agreement with a dissociative substitution mode. Irradiation at 546 nm results in significantly negative volumes of activation (between {minus}12 and {minus}14 cm{sup 3} mol{sup {minus}1}) for charge-transfer photosubstitution in the case of M = Mo and W, which is interpreted as strong evidence for an associative substitution reaction originating from the MLCT excited state.

Pressure as mechanistic indicator in organometallic photochemistry

We have recently undertaken a systematic study of the effect of pressure on photosubstitution reactions of organometallic, mostly carbonyl, complexes of the type M(CO) 6, M(CO) 5L and M(CO) 4L⌢L, where M = Cr, Mo and W. In some systems it was possible to measure the effect of pressure on both the photosubstitution quantum yield and the lifetime of the lowest excited state, whereas in others it was only possible to measure the former. The results are discussed in reference to data available for thermal substitution and photo-induced substitution reactions of related complexes. The results demonstrate that pressure is a key parameter, and therefore a mechanistic indicator, to distinguish between associative and dissociative photosubstitution processes of carbonyl complexes, and to discriminate between different pathways that originate from different electronic states.

Photoreactions of the triruthenium cluster HRu3(CO)10 (.mu.-COCH3). Isomerization of the bridging alkylidyne ligand and competing ligand substitutions

Irradiation of the title compound HRu{sub 3}(CO){sub 10}({mu}-COCH{sub 3}) (A) in hydrocarbon solution under CO leads to the formation of the bridging {mu},{eta}{sup 2} acyl isomer HRu{sub 3}(CO){sub 10}({mu}{eta}{sup 2}-C(O)CH{sub 3}) (B). Quantum yields for isomerization {phi}{sub i} were wavelength dependent ranging from < 10{sup {minus}5} at 405-nm excitation to about 0.05 at 313-nm excitation under P{sub CO} 1.0 atm. In addition, over the range 0-1.0 atm, the {phi}{sub i} values proved to be linearly dependent on P{sub CO} despite the absence of a stoichiometric requirement for CO in the isomerization. A key observation was that photoisomerization of A {sup 13}C labeled specifically at the bridging alkylidyne carbon, i.e., HRu{sub 3}(CO){sub 10}({mu}-{sup 13}COCH{sub 3}), gives B specifically labeled at the bridging acyl carbon, i.e., HRu{sub 3}(CO){sub 10}({mu}{eta}{sup 2}-{sup 13}C(O)CH{sub 3}), with no evidence of scrambling of the label with other carbons in the complex. Photolysis in the presence of {sup 13}CO or other added ligands demonstrated the lability of the cluster coordinated carbonyls to photosubstitution reactions. The quantum yield for photosubstitution {phi}{sub s} follows the same wavelength dependence as does {phi}{sub i}, and it is proposed that the two processes result from competitive decay pathways of common intermediates. Limiting quantummore » yields for photosubstitution are about 0.25. A mechanism for these reactions related to that proposed previously for the photofragmentation of the parent triruthenium cluster Ru{sub 3} (CO){sub 12} is discussed. Prolonged 313-nm irradiation of HRu{sub 3}(CO){sub 10}({mu},{nu}{sup 2}-C(O)CH{sub 3}) under CO leads to cluster fragmentation and the formation of Ru(CO){sub 5} plus acetaldehyde. 29 refs., 6 figs., 5 tabs.« less

Pressure as the key parameter to distinguish between associative charge-transfer and dissociative ligand-field photochemistry. CO substitution in W(CO)4(1,10-phenanthroline)

The pressure dependence of the quantum yield for photosubstitution of CO in W(CO)4(1,10-phenanthroline) was studied at different excitation wavelengths: volumes of activation of –12 cm3 mol–1 for the reaction following irradiation into the charge-transfer band and +8 cm3 mol–1 for the reaction following short wavelenght excitation are clear evidence for an associative reaction of the charge-transfer excited state and a dissociative reaction of the energetically higher ligand-field excited state, respectively.

Quantum yield for photosubstitution of a co group in chromium hexacarbonyl by pyridine

The quantum yield of the photosubstitution of CO by pyridine in cyclohexane has a value of 0.67 ± 0.02 for [Cr(CO) 6] = 3.10 −4 mol l − and [pyridine] = 10 − mol l −1.