Electrochemical and Spectroscopic Properties of Cyclometallated and Non-Cyclometallated Ruthenium(II) Complexes Containing Sterically Hindering Ligands of the Phenanthroline and Terpyridine Families

Two series of cyclometallated and noncyclometallated ruthenium(II) complexes incorporating mono- or disubstituted 1,10-phenanthroline- and 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine-type ligands have been synthesized and characterized. An X-ray crystal structure for one of the complexes, Ru(ttpy)(mapH)-(Cl)(PF6), has been obtained (mapH = 2-p-anisyl-1,10-phenanthroline; ttpy = 4′-tolyl-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine). Distinct electrochemical and photophysical properties have been observed for the two series: a remarkable feature is the observation of relatively long-lived MLCT excited states (from 70 to 106 ns at room temperature in CH3CN) for three of the cyclometallated complexes. A discussion is given on the role of factors like sigma donation by the cyclometallating ligands, interligand steric hindrance and interligand π-π interactions that affect the electrochemical and spectroscopic properties.