Efficient and Selective Photochemical Labilization of a Given Bidentate Ligand in Mixed Ruthenium(II) Complexes of the Ru(phen)2L2+ and Ru(bipy)2L2+ Family (L = Sterically Hindering Chelate)

Mixed ruthenium(II) complexes containing 1,10-phenanthroline (or 2,2′-bipyridine) and a sterically congested bidentate ligand such as 2,9-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 6,6′-dimethyl- or 6,6′-diphenyl-2,2′-bipyridine, or 1-(2′-pyridyl)-3,5-dimethylpyrazole undergo clean and selective ligand substitution under irradiation with visible light. For instance, Ru(phen)2(dmbp)2+ in CH3CN is quantitatively converted to Ru(phen)2(CH3CN)22+ in a photochemical reaction accompanied by expulsion of the sterically hindering chelate dmbp (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline; dmbp = 6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine). Interestingly, 2,2′-bipyridine was found to be photochemically ejected in one case, probably as a consequence of its greater flexibility.