“Electro-Photo Switch” and “Molecular Light Switch” Devices Based on Ruthenium(II) Complexes of Modified Dipyridophenazine Ligands: Modulation of the Photochemical Function through Ligand Design

Both [Ru(phen)2(qdppz)]2+ and [Ru(phen)2(dicnq)]2+ exhibit interesting photochemical properties depending on the characteristic features of the coordinated dipyridophenazine-based ligand in them: while the former complex acts as an “electro-photo switch”, the latter one has been demonstrated to be a “molecular light switch” for DNA.