A comparative study of the spectroscopy and oxidative spectroelectrochemistry of a series of homo- and heterobimetallic Ru(II) and Os(II) polypyridine complexes

A spectroscopic and spectroelectrochemical comparison is made among homo- and heterobimetallic complexes of the form (bpy)₂Ru(BL)Os(byp)₂]⁴⁺, (bpy)₂Ru(BL)Ru(bpy)₂]⁴⁺ and (bpy)₂Os(BL)Os(bpy)₂]⁴⁺ (BL = 2,3,-bis(2′-pyridyl)pyrazzine(dpp),2,3-bis(2′-pyridyl)quinoxaline(dpq) or 2,3-bis(2′-pyridyl)benzoquinoxaline(dpb); bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine). It has been postulated that the spectroscopy of the mixed-metal bimetallic complexes bridged by polyazine bridging ligands can be assigned by comparison to those of the homobimetallic analogs. We have in hand a unique series of complexes where such a postulate can be tested. Utilizing the visible spectra of the homobimetallic Os,Os and Ru,Ru systems, we have been able to generate the spectra of the mixed-metal complexes. Some differences have been seen, particularly in the energy of the Os → dpp ³MLCT. Oxidative spectroelectrochemistry studies on the homobimetallic ruthenium or osmium based systems indicate that upon complete oxidation of both metal centers, transitions in the visible are lost. Hence, partial oxidation of the ruthenium based homobimetallics and Os, Ru mixed-metal bimetallics allows for the direct comparison of the spectroscopic character of the one remaining ruthenium chromophore within these mixed-valence systems. Oxidation to form the Os(III)/Ru(II) species and the Ru(III)/Ru(II) species resulted in similar spectra. This establishes further that the visible spectroscopy of mixed-metal systems of this nature can be accurately interpreted by comparison to the homobimetallic analogs.