Synthesis and Characterization of a New Class of Mixed Ligand Ruthenium Complexes Containing 2,2’-Bipyridine and 3,3’-Dimethyl-1,1’- Methylenebisimidazolium Carbene Ligands
Elise G. Megehee and Richard Rosso, St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry
Tris-2,2’-bipyridineruthenium(II) complexes are of interest because of their importance in solar energy conversion and light-induced electron transfer catalysis. N- heterocyclic carbenes are an emerging class of versatile ancillary ligands, which are receiving increased attention, due to their ability to stabilize and activate metal centers in transition-metal complexes. In our complexes we have synthesized a series of [Ru(bpy)n(dmmbi)3-n](PF6)2 complexes where n = 0, 1, 2; bpy = 2,2’-bipyridine; dmmbi = 3,3’-dimethyl-1,1’-methylenebisimidazolium dicarbene which incorporate both ligands. The synthesis and characterization will be discussed.