Strong π-delocalization and substitution effect on electronic properties of dithienylpyrrole-containing bipyridine ligands and corresponding ruthenium complexes

Dalton Trans. 2012 Apr 28;41(16):4833-44. doi: 10.1039/c2dt12367c. Epub 2012 Mar 6.

Abstract

The first dithienylpyrrole (DTP)-based bipyridine ligands has been prepared and coordinated with ruthenium to give the corresponding homoleptic complexes. Bipyridine was bound at pyrrole (DTP(1)) or thiophene (DTP(2)) ring. A strong bathochromic effect was obtained by switching from pyrrole to thiophene for ligands and complexes. Interestingly the DTP(2) series offered a wide absorption window from UV to visible domain with an almost constant absorbance. These effects are due to a larger extent of delocalization as supported by DFT calculations and photophysical measurements.