Synthesis, luminescence, and cyclic voltammetric studies of novel binuclear ruthenium(II) complexes prepared from β-diketonate derivatives

Abstract

Two bis-(β-diketonate) ligands [H₂L¹ = 3,6-bis-(4,4,4-trifluorobutane-1,3-dione)-9-butyl-carbazole and H₂L² = 3,6-bis-(4,4,4-trifluorobutane-1,3-dione)-9-hexyl-carbazole] were synthesized, and their corresponding dinuclear ruthenium(II) complexes [Ru₂(bpy)₄(L¹)](PF₆)₂ (1) and [Ru₂(bpy)₄(L²)](PF₆)₂ (2) (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine)] were prepared by the reaction of Ru(bpy)₂Cl₂ · 2H₂O with H₂L¹ and H₂L² in ethanol, respectively. The structure of the ligand H₂L² was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The spectral properties of the ligands and their complexes have been studied. The absorption spectra of the complexes exhibit intense ligand-centered bands in the UV region and metal-to-ligand charge-transfer bands in the visible region. The two-photon absorption (TPA) coefficient β and TPA cross-section σ were determined by the Z-scan technique, which revealed that the two complexes exhibit strong TPA due to electronic extensive delocalization. The complexes undergo a reversible or quasi-reversible one-electron metal-centered redox process at E _1/2 = +0.93 V and E _1/2 = +0.92 V, respectively.