Designing cyclometalated ruthenium(II) complexes for anodic electropolymerization

Abstract

The anodic electropolymerization of thiophene-functionalized cyclometalated ruthenium(II) complexes is shown for the first time. Oxidative decomposition reactions can be overcome by modification of the involved redox potentials through the introduction of electron-withdrawing substituents, namely nitro groups, at the cyclometalating phenyl ring. The generated functionalized ruthenium(II) complexes allow the electrochemical preparation of thin polymer films, which show a broad UV/Vis absorption as well as reversible redox switchability. The presented complexes are promising candidates for future photovoltaic applications based on photo-redox-active films.

Keywords: click chemistry; cyclometalation; electropolymerization; photosensitizers; ruthenium.